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Floods in the Rigaud area from the sky, April 21, 2019. REUTERS / Christinne Muschi

Three provinces in eastern Canada are keeping a close eye on the situation as recent rains and snowmelt have inflated the waters of many rivers in Ontario, New Brunswick and Quebec, where several municipalities have declared a state of emergency .

With our correspondent in Quebec, Marie-Laure Josselin

More than 1,500 evacuees, nearly 1,300 homes already flooded ... And Quebec remains on alert because it is not finished. If the rains have stopped, the increase in temperatures favors the melting of the snow and therefore a level of water which could continue to rise.

The army was called in as reinforcements, 600 soldiers are deployed in the areas most at risk. Their mission: distribute and install sandbags, mount dykes and protect buildings.

We remind citizens that it is important to follow evacuation instructions for safety reasons. Avoid driving in risky areas. Observe the blocking points. #inundations # security pic.twitter.com/0x6M6UQxsc

Sûreté du Québec (@sureteduquebec) April 21, 2019

Everyone remembers 2017 when Quebec experienced exceptional floods. Prevention was then the watchword. This did not prevent evacuations.

Faced with a situation that may become redundant - several victims are at least their second disaster in a few years - the Prime Minister of the province, Francois Legault, warned that if we had to force people to move, he was going to have to do it.

The government is therefore considering putting in place a sales incentive for residents living in critical areas.

To help the victims, the Canadian Red Cross has launched a relief fund.