Sinkholes force residents from their million dollar homes in Sechelt, BC

B.C.'s south west coast is experiencing its worst winter in a decade, but that’s the least of worries for some residents in Sechelt.

The community nestled along the Sunshine Coast is home to a subdivision where sinkholes have prompted evacuation orders for 14 properties.

EVACUATION ALERT: Thurs. Feb. 7, 2019, 18:30. Evacuation Alert for 6629 to 6689 North Gale Ave. and 6644 to 6649 Seawatch Lane issued by @SecheltBC at the Emergency Ops. Cntr. Full press release here: https://t.co/OUOqY3LrTS pic.twitter.com/dLAKAmASaN

— District of Sechelt (@SecheltBC) February 8, 2019

On Friday, fences surrounding the subdivision were locked after residents finished emptying their homes, where only firefighters and RCMP are now permitted.

An engineering report was first issued by the district after a large sinkhole opened on Christmas Day, needing 40 truckloads of fill to close.

That report determined that future sinkholes or landslides within the subdivision could damage infrastructure or buildings, and injury or death are possible consequences.

For many, the subdivisions lots were already or planned to be “dream” homes, similar to homes down the street valued well over a million dollars.

With files from the Canadian Press.