HISTORICAL NEWS SEARCH - Government of British Columbia

the slide area. Both drivers walked into Kwinitsa, where they received assistance. On March 12, another slide came
down at Mile 34, blocking the highway and partially blocking the rail line. The highway and rail line were reopened
later that day. On March 13, the highway and rail connections between Terrace-Prince Rupert were reported to be
restored.
On March 8, CNR reported several slides between Mile 43.5-51.5. The larger slides were at: Mile 43.6, 300
ft. (90 m) long, 15 ft. (4.5 m) deep; Mile 50.1, 300 ft. (90 m) long, 35 ft. (10.5 m) deep; Mile 51.5, 200 ft. (60 m) long,
30 ft. (9 m) deep. On March 8, one or more CNR vehicles were hit and avalanches buried nine CNR personnel.
Ministry of Transportation and Highways personnel rescued them. On March 11, a large slide came down at Mile
50.1. It measured a length of 600 ft. (180 m) and a depth of 20 ft. (6 m). The rail line was closed twice, once for 57
hours and once for 11 hours.
March 15-19, 1972
Event type: Snow avalanches.
Precipitation: Ocean Falls (112.8 mm/1day), March 15, 1972; Prince Rupert M. Circ (83.7 mm/5 days), March 15-19,
1972; Tasu Sound (51.6 mm/1 day), March 18, 1972.
Source: The Daily News, March 16 and 17, 1972; J. Mekechuck, pers. comm. 1989. CN Railway, Edmonton, Alta.
On March 16, two more minor snowslides came down, one being at Mile 47. The slides, which measured 30
ft. (9 m) in depth, closed the highway and rail line, both of which were reopened on March 17. On that day, a small
slide came down but did not affect traffic. On March 17, Highway 16 reopened. Up until March 17, the highway had
been closed 20 times during the winter.
On March 19, CNR reported slides at Mile 39.9 and 51.7. The rail line was closed for 12 hours.
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*1) During the winter 1971-1972, the highway between Terrace-Prince Rupert was closed 22 times, from periods of a
few hours to one closure of 12 days (B.C. Ministry of Public Works 1973). Terrace recorded a total snowfall of 303 in.
(7.7 m) (Asante 1972).
April 18-20, 1972
Event type: Snow avalanches.
Precipitation: Falls River (70.4 mm/1 day), April 18, 1972; Kitimat Townsite (71.6 mm/1day), April 18, 1972; Prince
Rupert (30.2 mm/1 day), April 18, 1972.
Source: J. Mekechuck, pers. comm. 1989. CN Railway, Edmonton, Alta.
On April 19 and 20, CNR reported slides at Mile 50.1. The slides occurred at the same location and both
measured a length of 200 ft. (60 m). They had depths of 25 ft. (7.5 m) and 30 ft. (9 m), respectively. The rail line was
closed for 12 and 22 hours.
May 15, 1972
Event type: Spring runoff flooding.
Precipitation: Not applicable.
Source: The Interior News, May 29, 1996.
On May 15, hot weather caused snowmelt and runoff. The Bulkley River overflowed its banks and flooded
basements in Smithers.
May 31-June 2, 1972
Event type: Spring runoff flooding.
Precipitation: Not applicable.
Source: The Vancouver Sun, May 31, 1972; The Daily News, May 31, June 1 and 2, 1972; The Herald, June 1 and 6,
1972; The Interior News, June 7, 1972.
Overnight May 30-31, the Skeena River at Terrace rose 18 in. (45 cm) or 2 ft. (60 cm) in 24 hours. During
the previous 24 hours it already had risen 3 ft. (90 cm). The melting of the heavy snowpack caused the river to flood.
On May 30, Highway 16 between Prince Rupert-Terrace closed for two days. Some sections of the highway had 1.5
ft. (45 cm) of water on the road. The Skeena River flooded at Mile 43 and between Mile 41-46 west of Terrace. Some
residents of Remo were evacuated when the area flooded. At Usk, the ferry service was suspended for over a week
because of the high river levels. Except for minor problems at Usk, no flooding occurred east of Terrace. On June 2,
the very high water on the Skeena River and high tides restricted the rail traffic between Terrace-Prince Rupert to
daylight movements at low tide only.
At the end of May, floodwaters of the Bulkley River came very close to washing out Highway 16 at Eddy
Park in Telkwa. On May 31, water lapped at the edge of the highway for a day. The Bulkley River at Telkwa peaked
around May 31. The Bulkley River flooded its banks at Telkwa. The street in front of the Telkwa Hotel and Eddy Park
were under water. The street leading off the highway at Eddy Park was under water for three days.
On May 31, the Fraser River at Prince George reached 29.8 ft., about 2 ft. (60 cm) under the flood level of 32
ft. On June 2, the Fraser River at Prince George recorded an early peak of 31.75 ft. The scale of the June 1972 runoff can be
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