A Landslide Just Blocked a Major River in Canada; Now 20,000 are at Risk

In Canada, a landslide just blocked the major Chilcotin River. As a result, a large lake is building up behind this temporary dam in British Columbia, which is likely to soon burst, causing flooding hundreds of kilometers downstream. As a result, numerous evacuations are underway. So, why did this landslide occur in the first place and what areas are at risk? This video will answer both of these questions via the analysis of a geologist.

Thumbnail Photo Credit: Dr. Richard Roscoe, Photovolcanica, Licensed Image

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Google Earth imagery used in this video: ©Google & Data Providers

0:00 Major Landslide
0:23 A Blocked River
1:22 Evacuations
2:31 Unstable Hillside
3:13 Wildfire
3:38 Rainfall

[GeologyHub]

Once the landslide dam bursts, it has a chance of creating a major disaster. Please see this video’s description for official evacuation and hazard maps.

[EnlightnMe]

THIS is the man I trust when I need to evacuate. When he says "s**ts gone bad" I trust his judgement.

[James-xuvc]

On behalf of all Canadians, thanks for covering this significant event.
❤😢

[mbvoelker]

I appreciate your serious but measured and non-hysterical presentation of various geologic hazards.

[jimmyjames]

Great analysis. Awhile back I worked as technologist for BC GOV when there was a landslide near Tumbler Ridge in Northern BC that blocked the Murray River for a few days in 1990. Which we investigated. A large lake developed all the way back to the Murray Falls. When the river broke through the 10m of blockage there was a huge set of rapids as it eroded through the debris, with a subsequent flood downstream affecting a number of properties. This Chilcotin River blockage is more dangerous and for sure the Fraser River downstream shores are at risk. I worry about the potential for larger slides in that location following the erosion of the current slide toe and the scale of flooding that could occur after.

[xBaRLoGx]

This exact scenario happened in my town of Tbilisi, capital of Georgia back in 2015. A massive landslide occurred due to super heavy rainfall and it had blocked a small river about 15km from city center. Nobody had any idea what was happening, no warnings whatsoever. Everything happened almost instantly. 20 people lost their lives and/or went missing along with most zoo animals which also got flooded. It was a nightmare

[ChiliBuRevolution]

I reside in Chilanko Forks and the slide is 600m wide and 30m deep and it is about an hours drive down river from where I live, seen the latest aerial photos and video and it looks like it is slowly eating to the left side of the slide,

for the record "Nagwentled, " the Tsilhqot’in (Chilcotin) name for Farwell Canyon, means "landslides across the river."

this has happened before and will happen again, this area was part of the Hanceville fire complex back in 2017, over 500, 000 HA of that one fire of the 3 that surrounded us that summer and this made the soil hydrophobic in which it does not absorb moisture, coupled with recent heavy rainfall mother nature does what she does,

blessings to all effected
🙏
Non Ducor Duco

[colourfab]

One of my best friends lives in Lillooet, which is halfway along the proposed path of the possible flood. I've been there a couple of times on vacation, and also thought of moving there. This is terribly worrying news. At least her house is up a mountainside, but the town itself is at river level. If the "downtown" is destroyed, it'll be true devastation. Praying for everyone who lives in the area of the possible flood.

[bees]

The temptation to dig gravel to pan later is strong

[freedombro]

Your title is significantly more informative then cbc, city news, etc.
Your video is even more informative.
Thank you

[AudreyF]

I live in upper Fraser River region and have driven Highway 1 (TransCanada), which goes through the Fraser canyon many times.
This is truly a significant event that we are all watching, especially as this weekend is a holiday weekend due to the civic holiday on Monday, August 5.
As you mentioned, people should NOT drive through the Fraser canyon.
The discharge of the Fraser River, especially at narrow points like Hell's Gate, cannot fully be appreciated unless you check water gauge information. I have seen a bathometric scan done by a professor at Simon Fraser University and it was mindblowing.
Further, my former Geology instructor noted there is faulting throughout the canyon, and reasons why rock scaling is done on a regular basis. He does not trust it's stability should "the big one" hit or even a less significant quake.

[srf]

Mother Nature has her own schedule. Stay safe Canadian neighbors.

[ztublackstaff]

AS a BC resident thank you for following this. :)

[eetuthereindeer]

As someone living just 9000 kilometers away i appreciate this video about our local struggles

[valentinsantiago]

I hope someone sets up a camera at the dam and the slide and downstream to catch all of this. That would be so cool.

[Mikkelltheimmortal]

This is in line of my house. If the water is not released slowly soon we will be in way bigger trouble than when the Abbotsford pumps failed.

There are far too many important things in the path of destruction to lose all at once and that includes but is not limited to the CN and CP railways, bridges, HWY 1, High tension powerline supports and the live lines.
And you better believe that the damage of a sudden collapse of that natural dam will reach into the lower Fraser. And that's just from debris. The rush of water if it strikes at high slack tide will break things in Vancouver.

For reference I am a geology student, and have been studying nothing but landslides for the past year.

[wkmwnji]

Amazingly dramatic situation. Your non-hyped delivery gives the evacuation order more credibility. Thank you.

[randiescott]

Great video and informative commentary.

A layman’s consideration of the current Chilcotin River disaster…

News of the massive landslide at the Farwell Canyon on the Chilcotin River is now beginning to sink in. The debris field is described as 30m deep and 600m long causing the river to back up behind the collapse resulting in the riven to cease flowing downstream from the slide.

I read that the flow of the Chilcotin River was previously measured at 200 cubic meters per second which, over the course of 24 hours is 17, 280, 000 cubic meters of water backing up into what is now an upstream lake 6 km long.

It seems to me that such a backup is unsustainable and one of for things can happen:
1) The backup will suddenly overflow the blockage and make a path downstream.
2) The backup will overwhelm the blockage and suddenly burst through it.
3) The backup will begin to cut a path through the blockage and cut a quick and ever-enlarging swath downstream.
4) A controlled (extremely tall order) release of the backup through the blockage.

One thing is for certain, time is of the essence and every moment that elapses will see an extraordinary increase in the volume of the backup.

I have been following official government reports and information is becoming more available but is subject to very controlled messaging. I am sure there is a flurry of activity as officials, geotechnical and other engineering specialties, etc. technically assessing the situation and considering what possible action may be undertaken.

I pray I am wrong, but regardless of what actions occur, I think the Province should brace itself for a catastrophic result with tremendous ecological consequences. At some point, all that backup and accumulated debris will make its way downstream to the Fraser River to Hope and then through the Fraser Valley to the Gulf of Georgia.

Emergency Info BC:

[grahamkearnon]

I live in BC & I have to say you have produced the best explanation for the situation, keep it up!

[luannvondracek]

The Frazier River does run into Vancouver. Thanks for sharing this news. Would never had heard about it otherwise .