Aklavik/Inuvik (May 29/06) - Rising flood waters in Aklavik forced more than 160 people from their homes over the weekend.

Excess water from melting ice on the Peel Channel of the Mackenzie River started rising Friday morning.

Water has risen to nearly surround this Aklavik home. About 160 people chose to leave their homes and were flown to Inuvik to wait until flood waters from the Peel Channel recedes. - photo courtesy of Const. James MacEachern

By 2 p.m. May 26, most of the roads were under water, leaving Mayor Knute Hansen to declare a state of emergency.

The RCMP, volunteer fire department, and community members with boats and 4x4 vehicles traversed the flooded roads to evacuate all those who wanted to leave.

Cpl. Steve Black said the water in many places was "up to the headlights" of his police truck.

"You could not drive in a normal vehicle."

Those with medical conditions, infants, or who simply wanted to leave were marshalled at the community's school to be airlifted to Inuvik in several small planes.

The first evacuees were 12 elders and a caregiver from the Joe Greenland Centre, Friday.

Evacuee Michelle Gruben said people couldn't go outside their homes without encountering water Friday.

"It's totally flooded, there is water all over the roads," she said.

"Even flying over the town, you could see water in between the trees, where the ground is supposed to be."

She arrived in Inuvik at 2:30 p.m. Saturday with eight other people.

Hamlet councillor Billy Storr, who is still in the community, said there hasn't been a flood like this since 1992.

"It was a bit of a surprise; we didn't expect this," he said.

Storr said the cause of the flooding was ice from the Mackenzie River becoming jammed somewhere below Aklavik.

Storr and other members of the community said they do not know when the water will begin to recede.

Aklavik is home to about 600 people, most of whom decided to stay.

RCMP said there is little damage to most homes or businesses, however that does not include the Aklavik Band Office which was flooded Friday.

- with files from Jason Unrau