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Saguenay, Que., renews state of emergency for neighbourhood facing landslide threat

Quebec Prime Minister François Legault speaks with volunteers in La Baie, Saguenay, Que., where close to 200 people have been evacuated from their homes due to the threat of landslides, Wednesday, June 22, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Patrice Bergeron

Officials in the City of Saguenay, Que., have renewed a state of emergency for a neighbourhood under threat of another landslide.

On Wednesday, Quebec Premier François Legault toured the area and met with residents, announcing the government would increase the emergency aid destined for affected people.

He said most of the roughly 200 people who were forced from their homes after a landslide destroyed a home on June 13 would be able to return in two to four months, once the ground is stabilized.

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However, he said five homes would be demolished and four others may also need to come down.

An engineer with the Transport Department said Wednesday a record 157 millimetres of rain fell over a one-month period and was behind the initial landslide in the La Baie district of Saguenay, about 220 kilometres north of Quebec City.

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The province has said it will pay up to $375,000 for people whose homes are demolished and will provide a daily living expense allowance of $40 for each evacuee.

Click to play video: 'About 80 families evacuated north of Quebec City over risk of landslide'
About 80 families evacuated north of Quebec City over risk of landslide

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