Montreal brings in sandbags, pumps as river levels continue to rise

MONTREAL — Crews in Montreal are hauling in pumps and sandbags as river levels continue to rise with more rain in the forecast.

The city says the water levels on the Outaouais and des Prairies rivers are rising, and may spill out of their banks in the coming days.

It says teams have been bringing in flood protection infrastructure such as pumps, dikes and inflatable barriers in parts of the West Island and the city’s north end.

Parts of the city experienced major flooding 2017 and 2019, and Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada says officials want to be ready if water levels reach similar heights.