Edmundston families evacuated from homes as river floods

Families were evacuated from their homes in Edmundston, N.B., on Tuesday night after the Madawaska River flooded.

About 20 families were displaced in the northwestern New Brunswick community, said Andy Morton, deputy director of the province's Emergency Measures Organization.

Flood waters are causing roads to begin to crumble and sections of Route 105, Route 161 and Route 120 have closed. Demers Road, Canada Road, Mont-Farlagne Road and Rivire--la-Truite Road were closedon Wednesday.

Public Safety Minister John Foran said the government is closely monitoring the rising waters throughout the province, not just in the Fredericton area.

River levels in the province are expected to exceed the record levels that were reached in 1973, when the water reached 8.63 metres in Fredericton.

Rain and snow melt from northwestern Maine and southern Quebec is funnelling into New Brunswick's rivers.

Emergency Measures issued a major flood warning for all residents living along the St. John River on Wednesday.