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Quebec premier heads to flood-torn town in Charlevoix region

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Quebec Premier Fran├зois Legault will visit a town in the province’s Charlevoix region hit hard in recent days by spring flooding.

Legault is expected to arrive around 9 a.m. Wednesday, in Baie-Saint-Paul, about 95 kilometres northeast of Quebec City, where he will survey the damage and meet with residents.

Severe flooding this week washed away roads and cut off access to homes across the province, forcing a half-dozen communities to declare states of emergency, according to the Quebec Public Security Department.

More than 500 people in Baie-Saint-Paul had to leave their homes after the level of the Rivi├иre du Gouffre, which runs through the town, rose┬аon Monday.┬а

WATCH | Ferocious flooding in some parts of Quebec:┬а

Drone footage of flooding in Baie-Saint-Paul, Que.

People have had to leave their homes and roads have been washed away in the Charlevoix region of Quebec.

Environment and Climate Change Canada is forecasting periods of snow in Baie-Saint-Paul, which are expected to change to rain around noon. Later today, the area could see up to two centimetres of snow and up to five millimetres of rain. Wind gusts are expected to blow between 30 km/h to 50 km/h.

The search continues for two firefighters тАФ Christopher Lavoie and R├йgis Lavoie тАФ from St-Urbain, Que., in the Charlevoix region,┬аafter they were swept away in the water while trying to rescue two local residents.

Other communities affected by flooding are in the Lanaudi├иre and Laurentians regions, and in western Quebec.

Near the island of Montreal, the bridge between L’├Оle Mercier┬аand L’├Оle-Bizard remains closed.┬а

Louis-Roch Street, which connects L’├Оle-Bizard to L’├Оle Mercier, was closed on Tuesday night for safety reasons, according to the borough of L’├Оle-Bizard.

The Lac des Deux Montagnes┬а is under watch as water levels continued to rise.

Two men standing in water look at police officers in a boat.
The bridge between L’├Оle Mercier┬аand L’├Оle-Bizard was closed because of high water levels. (Simon-Marc Charron/Radio-Canada)

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