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Flooding in Gambo, N.L., prompts evacuations, highway closure

Canadian Press Article online since August 14th 2008, 23:00
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GAMBO, N.L. - Flooding prompted the evacuation of about 20 homes in the Newfoundland community of Gambo on Friday and the closure of a stretch of the Trans-Canada Highway.
RCMP Const. Brent Hillier said the evacuations were a precaution in case the water, following heavy rains, caused any landslides in a hilly area above the homes.
Hillier said the buildup of water against the highway above the eastern Newfoundland town was substantial.
"So our precaution at this point is to shut down the highway," Hillier said Friday night.
"The water's been dammed up on one side of the (highway), so basically this is a precautionary thing with regards to a fear of a landslide."
Provincial officials confirmed that a state of emergency had also been declared in the affected area.
The Trans-Canada was closed between Gambo and Gander, and the main road through Gambo was also closed for the most part, RCMP said.
It's the second bout of serious flooding in Gambo in recent weeks - the town suffered millions of dollars in flood damage late last month.
Roads were washed out and dozens of homes suffered damage near the end of July after 60-70 millimetres of rain fell in just nine hours, causing flash flooding.
Gambo Mayor Lloyd Noseworthy said Friday that town officials were again preparing for serious problems.
"There's a huge lake of water on the back (of the road) and it's a very dangerous situation," said Noseworthy.
"We're afraid the Trans-Canada's going to flood, going to move, and come out and crush right down over Gambo - we have all the houses evacuated under the road."
Hillier said the situation remained unpredictable Friday night, despite the fact the rain had stopped.
"The overflow from the hilly areas beyond the (highway) . . . there's still a steady stream of water that's running into the area," he said.
"So until that actually soaks into the ground . . . we're still in a situation where we're unsure if it's getting better or getting worse."
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