This HuffPost Canada page is maintained as part of an online archive.

Rigaud Mayor Says Flood Evacuees Are 'Crying Like Babies'

He ordered a mandatory evacuation on Sunday.

While historic floods have forced the evacuation of more than 1,500 people from their homes in Quebec, one mayor said residents of his town were "crying like babies."

"People have to be evacuated, and we put them in boats, and they're crying like babies," Rigaud Mayor Hans Gruenwald Jr. said at a press conference. "I'm sorry. They're at a point now where they're not in a position to decide anymore their own future."

Rigaud ordered a mandatory evacuation on Sunday. A state of emergency had already been in place for several days.

More than 1,500 soldiers have been deployed in Quebec to help with the flooding, which the province's Environment Minister David Heurtel described as "beyond the worst scenarios that have occurred in the last 55 years

With files from the Canadian Press

Watch the video above to see the mayor's comments.

Follow HuffPost Canada on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Also on HuffPost

Quebec Floods 2017

Quebec Floods 2017

Close
This HuffPost Canada page is maintained as part of an online archive. If you have questions or concerns, please check our FAQ or contact support@huffpost.com.