Port aux Basques declares state of emergency, evacuates residents in wake of Fiona

Port aux Basques declared a state of emergency Saturday as residents had to evacuate from the east end of town after a major storm surge damaged and destroyed homes.

The RCMP say two women were swept out to sea. One was rescued and sent to hospital with injuries that are not believed to be serious. The second woman has not been found and police have launched a missing person’s investigation.

It all happened after the remains of Hurricane Fiona made landfall in Atlantic Canada Saturday morning. Fiona arrived as a post-tropical storm with hurricane force winds. Burnt Islands on the southwest coast also declared a state of emergency, and damage was reported in Burgeo.

Port aux Basques Mayor Brian Button informed residents staying in emergency shelters they would not be able to return home Saturday night.