Quebec’s second largest landslide near Whapmagoostui and Kuujjuaraapik remains under close observation

The landslide that occurred on April 22, 2021 approximately 8 kilometres upstream from  the village of Kuujjuaraapik and Whapmagoostui spilled over 45 million cubic metres of debris into  the Great Whale River. The landslide covers a span of 1.8 kilometres in length and 500 metres in  width along the riverbank – the longest landslide ever recorded in Quebec.

Members of the communities of Kuujjuarapik and Whapmagoostui displayed impressive  photos and videos of the stunning impact of the natural occurrence, which caused no damage to  the nearby communities. Local leaders made their presentation while participating in a virtual meeting yesterday in order to update the situation. Local elder advisor, George Kawapit, advises  the meeting “there is no need of immediate concern as long as the river is flowing and we continue  to monitor the ice. This is due to very small snow fall in comparison to previous years.”

“The worst is over. The major part of the debris from the landslide has spilled into the  river,” said Quebec Ministry of Transportation geologist and landslide expert Denis Demers during  the meeting. “It may take months if not years for the river to return to its normal course.” Once government experts receive the topographic data taken from the site, they will arrive  in Kuujjuaraapik next week to conduct a closer inspection of the massive landslide. The experts  will monitor the soil erosion, the state of the riverbanks and the flow of the water downstream into the Hudson Bay.

According to experts, the height of the slope along the river embankment located next to  the community is too low for soil erosion to create a major landslide that would cause significant  material damage. In other words if a landslide would occur near the community, the topography  is such that it is not a major risk to the residents.

Local leaders will create a safety buffer zone around the landslide to warn residents of  both communities to the potential dangers in the area.

Further updates are expected after the experts complete their assessment of the soil and  riverbanks near the site of the landslide.

Communication Department
Kativik Regional Government
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Information and Communications
Whapmagoostui First Nation
Tel: 819 929 3384 ex: 224
infoandcomms@whapmagoostuifn.ca