A popular park in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland remains closed due to damage from a river weather system that inundated the province’s south coast, triggering a mudslide and local flooding that killed three people.

The Ministry of Environment says the storm that swept through the region for three days starting Oct. 18 caused damage to Golden Ears Provincial Park, north of Maple Ridge.

A statement from the ministry said the province hopes to be able to reopen part of the park this fall, but the exact timeline is not yet clear.

He says park staff are working with engineers to assess the damage with an immediate focus on clearing blocked culverts and repairing roads.

Nearby Coquitlam was among the hardest hit areas, with the atmospheric river dumping more than 250 millimeters of rain on the community this weekend.

A notice posted on the park’s website after the storm said it was “closed until further notice.”

The ministry suggests anyone interested in visiting the park check the Golden Ears website for updates.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published October 31, 2024.

Brenna Owen, The Canadian Press