Massive rainfall in Vancouver leaves everything floating in water

A massive rainfall in Vancouver, Canada, has destroyed homes, roads and bridges. The city's connection from the outer world is cut as rescuers attempt to safeguard the people from flash flooding.

As per officials, the city experienced two months worth of rainfall in just two days, leading to the overwhelming situation

Two highways connecting the city's west coast were closed after being damaged by severe flooding. Thousands of people were forced to leave their homes due to Monday's massive storm.

A woman has been killed in a highway landslide, and rescue services say at least two other people are still missing.

The woman's body was found near Lillooet, about 250 km (155 miles) from Vancouver, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

According to AFP news agency RCMP, Sgt Janelle Shoihet said rescuers had not yet determined the number of occupied vehicles lost in the crash.

Provincial Transport Minister Rob Fleming said it would be "the worst weather storm in a century" at a news conference. Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth said he had "no doubt" that the storm was linked to climate change.

All 7,000 residents of Merritt, about 120 miles northeast of Vancouver, were ordered to flee their homes on Monday.

Snow fell on Tuesday, and cars in the city were seen floating in icy floodwaters.

Helicopter crews were also sent to the mountain town of Agassiz to rescue about 300 people who were trapped on a cut-off road.

Monday's rain and wind were mostly clear on Tuesday afternoon, but some communities remained stranded. On Tuesday, Abbotsford officials told residents to leave Sumas Prairie and Yarrow neighborhoods immediately because rising water levels "pose a significant risk to life."

"You have to leave immediately," said Mayor Henry Braun. "Nothing is worth your life. Tomorrow morning may be too late."

Part of the Trans-Canada Highway, which connects Vancouver with the rest of the country, has been submerged.

A section of the Coquihalla Highway that connects Vancouver with the interior of the province appears to be flooded.

The port of Vancouver, the largest in Canada, has been forced to suspend all rail access due to floods and landslides, stopping supplies of food, fuel and other goods.

The port moves about CA $550m (US$440m) worth of cargo each day. Fuel lines in the area have also been shut down due to preventive measures.

The impact of climate change on the frequency of storms is still unclear, but we know that rising sea surface temperatures are warming the air and providing more energy to drive hurricanes, cyclones and typhoons. As a result, they will probably become more intense during more extreme precipitation.

The world has been warming by about 1.2C since the industrial era began, and temperatures will continue to rise unless governments around the globe reduce steep emissions.

The storm comes after British Columbia experienced a record-breaking heatwave last summer that killed more than 500 people and forest fires that destroyed an entire city.