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Avalanche experts visit Nunavik communities

Two avalanche experts hired by the Quebec government travelled to Salluit, Wakeham Bay and Kangirsuk last week to study and evaluate the avalanche risks in these communities.

One of the experts, Jean-François Dubé, co-authored a report on avalanche risks in Kangiqsualujjuaq for the Kativik School Board. The report that appeared to minimize the risks of a major avalanche occurring behind the former Satuumavik School, which was destroyed on Jan. 1, 1999, by a major avalanche.

"The school itself doesn’t seem to be threatened," the report concluded. "The hill... could not create a powerful enough avalanche."

However, the report also proposed some measures, which could have saved lives, if they had been implemented.

In March 2000, Quebec recruited two top avalanche experts from Norway to tour any Nunavik communities considered to be at risk of an avalanche and to assess the possible dangers from avalanches.

They found the Sautjuit School in Kangirsuk to be at some risk of an avalanche and suggested a fence might help the problem. Due to a delay in carrying out a technical study, there is still no fence.

In Salluit and Kangiqsujuaq, the communities’ tank farms are also at risk of an avalanche.

In Salluit, the experts’ report recommended either moving the tanks, installing a series of supporting constructions to block snow slides, building a concrete wall or moving the tanks.

In Kangiqsujuaq, the tank farm is also at risk. When the Norwegians visited the site, they even noted an avalanche that had stopped not far from tanks. They recommended relocation, putting up a dam or $300,000 worth of supporting constructions.

Kangiqsujuaq’s tank farm will be moved next summer, however, there has been no agreement yet on where to move it.

Surveillance teams in Kangirsuk, Kangiqsujuaq and Salluit already monitor snow conditions on a daily basis and send reports to Dubé and another avalanche expert.

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