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120 Canadian soldiers deployed to Abbotsford to aid in flood recovery efforts

Canadian Armed Forces troops will be on the ground by end of day Nov. 18
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Devastating flooding in Abbotsford is shown in this aerial shot. (Peregrine Aerial Surveys)

Following a request for assistance from the province, 120 soldiers are on their way to Abbotsford to aid in flood recovery.

Federal Defence Minister Anita Anand said that those troops would be on the ground in the flood-ravaged city by the end of the day Thursday (Nov. 18 and that aerial assessments of the damage province-wide are being conducted by the armed forces.

Canadian Armed Forces Gen. Wayne Err said that the 120 troops are a “vanguard company” from the immediate response group stationed in Edmonton. The rest of the 240 troops will begin moving into B.C. once the best routes are determined. Many of B.C.’s highways are in various stages of disrepair, with some completely destroyed in sections like the Coquihalla and others broken up by landslides like Hwys. 1, 3, 7 and 99.

A reconnaissance party from the armed forces is already at an emergency operations centre in Surrey to work with local and provincial officials to determine where help is needed.

READ MORE: Coquitlam firefighters go back for dog trapped in kennel in flooded Abbotsford house


@katslepian

katya.slepian@bpdigital.ca

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