TORONTO, April 26 (UPI) -- Canadian officials Saturday ordered the military to assist with evacuations ahead of expected flooding in northern Ontario.
The communities of Kashechewan and Fort Albany were being evacuated due to rising waters and the breakup of ice on the Albany River.
The Canadian Red Cross said in a statement it had disaster management teams were helping local agencies and were prepared to send more personnel to the area should the flooding become serious.
The Canadian armed forces said in a announcement that five air force helicopters and two planes had been dispatched to assist with the evacuations. The Red Cross said the number of evacuees was expected to total about 300. They would be moved to shelters in Sault St. Marie and other towns.
