First Nation chief says B.C. landslide doubled in size, sparks concerns

The chief of Williams Lake First Nation says a landslide of debris that has dammed the Chilcotin River in British Columbia's central Interior has nearly doubled in size since Wednesday.

The chief of Williams Lake First Nation says a landslide of debris that has dammed the Chilcotin River in British Columbia's central Interior has nearly doubled in size since Wednesday.

Chief Willie Sellars, who toured the slide site by helicopter Wednesday and Thursday, says the water is continuing to build on one side of the dam, while the other had "completely dried up" for about two kilometres.

Officials have said the water collecting behind the slide south of the city of Williams Lake could reach a level where it will start flowing over the debris, or it will erode the material, setting off a release.

They have estimated a release could come Friday or Saturday, and could set off dozens of evacuation orders and alerts downstream.

Evacuation orders span 107 square kilometres along the Chilcotin, and officials saying the slide poses an "immediate danger to life and safety."

The nearby Tsilhqot'in National Government has declared a state of local emergency and warned people to stay away from the river.

The state of the river also has Interior Health relocated 21 patients out of a hospital and long-term care home in Lillooet to alternate areas.