Kelowna state of emergency expanded citywide

A state of local emergency has been expanded to encompass all of the City of Kelowna as a precautionary measure.

The area is at risk of flooding because of high streamflowsin local creeks and high groundwater levels, according to the Central Okanagan's Emergency Operations Centre.

"The state of emergency is a proactive approach that provides crews access to specific private properties in order to protect public infrastructure," it said a statement.

"The state of emergency will remain in place for seven daysand is often renewed until the situation lapses."

• PHOTOS | Washed out roads and watery basements: Okanagan residents brace for more floods

A state of local emergency was previously declared for Kelowna April 26 and renewed May 3 for Mill Creek from the eastern city limits to Okanagan Lake.

Evacuation orders

City-wide local states of emergency also exist for Peachland and West Kelowna, and in the Central Okanagan'swest electoral area.

About 70 homes in the Thompson Nicola Regional District are under evacuation orderafter weekend flooding.

Six residences were also evacuated in one of the Lower Nicola Band reserves near Merritt when a berm gave way.

Highway 8 west of Merritt has been closed by flooding at 10 Mile Bridge, and highway officials say the water continues to rise at that location.

Advisories across B.C.

The River Forecast Centre has upgraded flood watches and high streamflow advisories for several waterways, including Mission Creek near Kelowna, the Similkameen River in the southern Interior, the West Kettle and Granby rivers and their tributaries in the Boundary region and the Bulkley River.

Flood warnings are also being maintained for the Nazko and West Road rivers in the Cariboo region west of Quesnel where about 120 properties have been on evacuation order for more than a week.

• Thompson-Nicola Regional District declares state of emergency as waters rise

Flood watches remain upacross the central Interior for the Bonaparte River, Baker Creek, Nicola River, Guichon Creek, Coldwater River and tributaries around Cache Creek, Merritt, Williams Lake, and Quesnel.

EmergencyInfoBC, the online service that is active during provincial emergencies, says evacuation orders or alerts are in place in six regional districts and for one Merritt-area First Nation.

With files from The Canadian Press