Friday, December 26, 2025
ADVT 
National

Human error factor in fatal dam spill

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 08 Oct, 2020 06:47 PM
  • Human error factor in fatal dam spill

Metro Vancouver says human error is the clearest factor in the fatal release of water from a dam last week.

The preliminary findings were issued Thursday by Metro Vancouver commissioner Jerry Dobrovolny, who says the error was related to the programming of the control system for the spillway gate at the Cleveland Dam.

He says the Metro Vancouver regional district takes responsibility for the mistake and its deepest sympathies go out to those affected.

Five people who were fishing downstream were swept away when a large volume of water rushed from the dam down the Capilano River on Oct. 1.

The body of one man was pulled from the river and a second man hasn't been found, while the others were rescued.

A statement from Metro Vancouver says it is looking at implementing system enhancements, including a public warning system and increased monitoring downstream to the dam.

"Metro Vancouver is committed to ensuring that this type of event never happens again," the statement says.

The district says it is bringing in expert advisers to assess its practices and procedures, and to provide advice on strengthening its operations and maintenance systems.

It says the most recent safety review, which included an assessment of public safety measures, was in 2016.

MORE National ARTICLES

Pandemic lays bare economic disparities

Pandemic lays bare economic disparities
Fixing the social and economic gaps that left women, young people and racialized Canadians to suffer the biggest economic blows from the COVID-19 pandemic is a top priority in the recovery effort, Finance Minister Bill Morneau says.

Pandemic lays bare economic disparities

Federal deficit $343B amid uncertain outlook

Federal deficit $343B amid uncertain outlook
Nearly two million Canadians could be without jobs this year under forecasts released by the federal government in its long-awaited "fiscal snapshot."

Federal deficit $343B amid uncertain outlook

Border agency behind on removals: auditor

Border agency behind on removals: auditor
Canada's border agency has failed to promptly remove most of the people under orders to leave the country, the federal auditor general says.

Border agency behind on removals: auditor

Auditor finds $2.4B in unpaid student loans

Auditor finds $2.4B in unpaid student loans
Canada's auditor general has called for the federal government to step up its recovery of outstanding student loans to keep taxpayers from being left on the hook after discovering that $2.4 billion in such loans were in default last year.

Auditor finds $2.4B in unpaid student loans

U.S., Mexico to talk USMCA without Canada

U.S., Mexico to talk USMCA without Canada
The president of Mexico is in Washington to meet with President Donald Trump and celebrate North America's new trade deal — a celebration in which Canada is not taking part.

U.S., Mexico to talk USMCA without Canada

Ban on vaping ads to take effect next month

Ban on vaping ads to take effect next month
Ottawa's new rules restricting the promotion of vaping products in places young people can access are set to come into effect next month.

Ban on vaping ads to take effect next month