Thus, new data was collected Monday on the ground in the area where the landslide occurred. This data collection is done by Englobe in anticipation of emergency work to stabilize the embankment which could collapse again.
This work will then allow the company to approach closer to the fault to take other samples for the final phase of the work.
There were two piezocone rounds made in the field today by Englobe, which is transmitting everything to the MTQ so that he has the data. This data will be used by MTQ specialists to design emergency stabilization work. This will undoubtedly mean excavation, but the detail is obviously not known until it is designed and executed afterwards.
first explained by email the spokesperson for Saguenay, Dominic Arseneau.
Recall that 53 additional residences were evacuated Saturday evening and Sunday morning, while another landslide was deemed imminent.
In the current state of the terrain, it would be too dangerous for the moment to approach with heavy machinery.
This emergency stabilization will allow Englobe teams to safely approach the slip fault to drill other samples, new samples that will be used to collect data in order to design the final stabilization works.
continued the spokesperson.
Dykes completed
The construction of the imposing crushed asphalt dikes in the area of the evacuated houses in La Baie ended on Monday, after having started on Sunday.
This type of material was used because of its availability in large quantities in La Baie and its low cost.
These dikes are more than four meters high.
According to Ali Saedi, professor of geotechnics at the University of Quebec in Quebec (UQAC), this work was necessary to contain any debris in the event of a new landslide.
From what I understand, it’s more to contain the casting. It wasn’t really for the sustaining effect. It’s more if there’s gonna be a pour, she’ll contain it, the pour won’t go to the streets
exposed about the usefulness of a dike the one who is specialized in the analysis of the risks associated with natural hazards.
Several Saguenay services
The many interventions in Saguenay over the past few days have required the support of several employees as well as great coordination between the various departments.
For the Public Works department, there were up to twenty employees on the ground during the weekend. There were 16 left on Monday.
At the end of the week, they built the dikes, closed the aqueduct valves to cut off the water from the sectors at risk and closed the streets. Today (Monday) they are moving the fences around the perimeter to reinforce it and they are building hot asphalt gullies in front of the dikes to send rainwater down the drains
said Dominic Arseneau.
As for the firefighters, 20 of them entered in surplus, while no additional police officer was necessary.
As for the Engineering Department, three employees coordinated with Englobe and the MTQ.
Eight employees from the Culture, Sports and Community Life branch have been assigned to support the evacuees.
In the emergency measures plan, this service is responsible for setting up and welcoming citizens to the information and accommodation centre, when applicable. The reception center is still open and people can go there if they need help (Centre des sports Jean-Claude-Tremblay). There, they take care of finding lodgings, of entrusting the animals to the SPCAto register the citizens so that we have the complete census of the evacuees
he also detailed.
Blasting at La Baie Hospital
In addition, the Integrated University Health and Social Services Center (CIUSSS) of Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean carried out, as announced last week, blasting operations as part of the redevelopment work of the emergency room at La Baie hospital.
The hospital is about 1.75 kilometers away, as the crow flies, from the site of the landslide.
According to an answer provided in the afternoon on Monday by Mélissa Bradette, Senior Advisor for Communications and Media Relations at the CIUSSSblasting began at 1 p.m. Monday.
In view of the current situation, additional checks were carried out with the authorities concerned, in particular the Landslide Section, Geotechnics and Geology Department of the Ministère des Transports (MTQ). Following these checks, the firm received authorization to proceed with the work
she confirmed.
Blasting will continue until Wednesday, July 13, with the exception of weekends, June 24 and July 1. The contractor will proceed with a regular schedule, namely at 8 am, 10:30 am, 1 pm and 3 pm.
With information from Roby St-Gelais and Pascal Girard
Reference-ici.radio-canada.ca