BRANTFORD, Ont. — A southwestern Ontario community remains under a state of emergency after flooding from a swollen river forced thousands of residents from their homes.
Brantford, Ont., mayor Chris Friel says the city remains in "response mode" despite an overnight decrease in water levels on the Grand River.
The city declared the state of emergency on Wednesday and ordered nearly 5,000 residents in neighbourhoods near the river to leave their homes. Friel says about 1,000 homes in the area are without gas and power.
Officials have cautioned the public not to go near the river, saying they do not want to see any more tragedy caused by flooding.
More than 100 kilometres north along the Grand River, near Orangeville, Ont., police continue to search for a boy who went missing after his mother's van plunged into the water around 1 a.m. Wednesday.
Provincial police Const. Paul Nancekivell says the search team is now conducting a recovery operation, rather than a rescue effort, because chances are slim that the boy survived more than 24 hours after the incident.
