Officials are closely monitoring water levels in several communities along the Saint John River after it spilled its banks and left much of Fredericton’s downtown core under water.
Some government offices have been shut down for the day, roads are closed and court hearings are being relocated in the capital city following significant flooding that is rivalling one of the province’s worst floods.
WATCH: Officials are closely monitoring water levels in several communities along the Saint John River after it spilled its banks and left much of Fredericton’s downtown core under water. Morganne Campbell has more.
READ MORE: Flooded-out rivers continue to threaten Fredericton area
Geoffrey Downey, spokesman for the Emergency Measures Organization, says water levels appear to be holding in Fredericton, but concern is rising that communities downstream like Jemseg, Maugerville and Quispamsis could be hit next.
Downey says the forecast is calling for about eight millimetres for the next 48 hours, so while they are happy the river doesn’t seem to be rising at the moment, this situation is far from resolved.
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He says for Fredericton, this is on par with 2008, which is regarded as the second worst flood, with levels hitting 8.36 metres.
The Saint John River reached 8.2 metres – or 1.7 metres above flood stage – on Saturday, but had receded to 8.1 metres on Sunday.
Heavy rains are dousing the area today, raising concerns that there could be further flooding in the area.
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Several communities down river are already surpassing flood levels, with Maugerville, Grand Lake and Jemseg exceeding flood stage levels.
Other river systems were also at risk of flooding, including the Nashwaak, Middle and Tetagouche rivers.
The province says the closures in Fredericton are necessary because high water levels have left roads under water and created problems with parking.
Offices outside the downtown would remain open.
WATCH: A small community just outside of Saint John has been blocked to traffic as a result of flooding. As Todd Veinotte reports, many residents of Darling’s Island are frustrated.
The Canadian Red Cross says 26 residences had been evacuated, affecting 58 people.
That doesn’t include those who evacuated on their own.
The province is stressing that people should steer clear of closed areas and not bypass barricades.
Downey says the current is very strong and the river is full of debris.
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