Remains of 2 missing children found after N.S. flood, RCMP say | CBC News

Nova Scotia RCMP say the remains of two children who went missing amid devastating flooding have been found.

In an update on Tuesday, police said the body of one child was located just after 10:45 a.m. local time in Brooklyn, N.S. They also confirmed that human remains recovered on Monday are those of the second child.

The children were reported missing Saturday after the vehicle they had been travelling in was caught in floodwaters near Brooklyn, N.S.

A man and a youth in another vehicle in the area also went missing. The body of the 52-year-old man was found Monday.

1 youth still missing

The youth still has not been found. Police said the search continues in Brooklyn, where work is underway to lower water levels on flooded land. Civilian contractors are also helping with the search.

Police believe the victims were trying to flee their homes at the time.

“So they were leaving their residences trying to get to a safe area and that’s when they were struck with the storm surge,” Sgt. Rob Frizzell told reporters. “They were leaving and were kind of pushed off of the road into a field that then quickly flooded with water.”

Premier Tim Houston told reporters it was “another incredibly sad day in what’s now been a series of bad days in this province.”

“The whole entire province is sick with mourning for the loss of three souls now. The tragedy that’s happened here is really unimaginable, really hard to comprehend,” Houston said.

Houston commended first responders for their work.

“I can’t imagine the emotions that they’re feeling right now, completely heroic efforts,” he said.

Chief Supt. Sue Black of the Nova Scotia RCMP told reporters police are still working with the Nova Scotia Medical Examiner’s Office to positively identify the remains of both children.

A provincewide state of emergency has been in effect since late Saturday. West Hants, East Hants, the Halifax Regional Municipality, Lunenburg County and Queens County are considered to be among the hardest hit areas.

In an update on Tuesday, the Halifax Regional Municipality said while the water is finally beginning to recede, some roads are still flooded. It said drivers and motorcyclists should use extra caution because of debris on the road and should not drive on the shoulders of the road.

The municipality has also posted a map that shows blocked roads and infrastructure damage.

People in flooded parts of the municipality can add their information to its flood registry, which is intended to determine the critical needs of residents so that the municipality can follow up.

Rail update

CN Rail said efforts to repair a rail line that was severed by a washout south of Truro is progressing.

“We expect train movements to resume completely in the coming days with additional work continuing as needed,” Daniel Salvatore said in a statement.

“While efforts remain underway, CN is working with its customers and supply chain partners to keep essential goods moving through available alternatives.”

N.S. train service suspended as CN works to repair washed out rail line

Train services between Halifax and the rest of the country have been paused after a section of the main rail line near Truro washed out following a historic rainfall. On Tuesday, a spokesperson for CN said repairs are progressing and trains should be moving again in the coming days.

A spokesperson for the Port of Halifax said on Monday that the operation has capacity to store existing containers and those that continue to arrive by ship in the short-term while CN works to repair the line. More than 60 per cent of the containers going in and out of Halifax move by rail.

Some repairs will take weeks, the municipality said.

Starting Wednesday and continuing until Friday, Aug. 4, garbage set-out limits will be increased from six to eight bags of garbage.

For excess food waste, public drop-off bins are available to residents at the Ragged Lake Organics Facility and the Burnside Composting Facility Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Residents are asked to separate food from containers. Glass is not allowed.

Flood-related demolition, construction and renovation debris, such as wood, drywall and carpet, can be taken to Halifax C&D Recycling for a fee. 

The municipality is asking people to avoid areas in parks and trails affected by flooding. It is also recommending people avoid swimming and boating on lakes and rivers for safety reasons.