Eight people were rescued after their vehicles became trapped in a landslide on northern Vancouver Island on Thursday evening.

Port Hardy RCMP were contacted around 7:15 p.m. by an iPhone SOS. The SOS reported two people were trapped inside a vehicle that was “disabled by a flash flood” while they were returning from San Josef Bay at the tip of Vancouver Island.

“A second group travelling in an RV stopped to assist but also became trapped when rising floodwaters and debris blocked the road in both directions,” said Port Hardy RCMP.

Mounties say they tried to respond but couldn’t reach the trapped people due to multiple mudslides and road washouts.

Three other emergency groups were then called including Campbell River Search and Rescue, Joint Rescue Coordination Centre and 442 Transport

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