A section of Highway 16 near Jungle Beach between Tlell and Skidegate on Haida Gwaii collapsed on Monday after heavy rain, as the region remained under a rainfall warning. CBC
Heavy rainfall slammed British Columbia’s North Coast on Monday, washing out a section of Highway 16 on Haida Gwaii and cutting off a key north–south route. Officials closed the highway between Lawnhill Road and Miller Road, a stretch of about 5.3 kilometres, and reported no detour in place by early afternoon.
DriveBC confirmed the closure and urged drivers to avoid the area as crews assessed the damage.
Resident Describes Sudden Collapse
Local resident Alex Rinfret shared photos showing severe damage near Jungle Beach. She said flooding covered the road on Sunday, but the surface still held. By Monday morning, the situation changed quickly.
Rinfret said she and her son tried to drive south toward the Sandspit airport when they saw the roadway torn open.
“Way worse than just a big puddle, like the highway is completely gone,” she said. “There's a giant gap that you cannot get across with a vehicle.”
With no way through, Rinfret said her son had to walk along the nearby beach, cross the damaged section on foot, and catch a ride to the airport from the other side.
Community Cut Off
Rinfret said she had never seen damage like this on Haida Gwaii. The washout has fully cut the main route linking communities across the archipelago.
She voiced concern for residents who rely on the highway for medical care and daily supplies. She also hoped crews could restore access before she needs to travel south to Daajing Giids.
“It looked like an earthquake or something had happened. It just destroyed it,” she said.
Warnings From Haida Nation
In a public statement, the Haida Nation reported “extreme flooding” after heavy rain followed recent snowfall. Leaders warned residents to stay off backroads and remote routes.
“Conditions are unstable, many forest service roads are inaccessible or impassable, and attempting to use them may put individuals at serious risk and impede emergency response efforts,” the statement said.
Province Reviews Temporary Fix
North Coast–Haida Gwaii MLA Tamara Davidson said the provincial transportation ministry has begun reviewing plans for a temporary structure to reconnect the highway. She did not provide a timeline and advised residents to stay away from fast-moving rivers.
Hospital Services Adjust
The highway closure has raised concerns about access to health care. Haida Gwaii has two hospitals, one in Masset and one in Daajing Giids. Northern Health said the emergency room at the Northern Haida Gwaii Hospital in Masset will divert patients daily, operating from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. until Jan. 4, 2026.
Outside those hours, staff will direct emergency patients to the hospital in Daajing Giids. Health officials said they continue to work with emergency services on options such as air transport and ambulance-only access.
Flood Watch and Rainfall Warning
The washout occurred during a flood watch from the B.C. River Forecast Centre for Haida Gwaii and the North Coast. The centre warned that nearby rivers could reach or exceed their banks due to rain and melting snow.
Environment Canada also issued a rainfall warning for parts of the North Coast, with some areas expecting up to 200 millimetres of rain. Forecasters said Prince Rupert could see the heaviest rainfall, while Haida Gwaii could receive up to 110 millimetres.
Meteorologist Ken Dosanjh said persistent rain, not just intensity, has driven the flooding.
“What’s happened is it has more moisture, but it’s the duration that’s been the main concern,” he said.
