| WHISTLER, B.C. - A Squamish geological engineer is sounding the alarm about the possibility of a landslide in Whistler following recent heavy rains.
Frank Baumann says the wet weather caused a massive chunk of earth poised above Whistler village to begin slipping down the mountain.
Baumann says says scientists have known about the possibility of a slide for years – but says he's never seen the unstable land mass move as much as it has in recent weeks.
"So really, at any time, you could get a big chunk of this breaking off and blocking Fitzsimmons Creek, and creating what we call a debris flood which would then, in about 10 minutes, make it down to the main village area," he says.
INTERVIEW: The Early Edition's Rick Cluff speaks with Frank Baumann. (Runs 5:16)
Baumann says Whistler officials need to act soon to minimize the risk of a landslide.
He says building a debris bypass barrier could stop the slide from reaching the village.
But it's unclear exactly who would build the barrier. The land in question is owned by the province, but it's within Whistler boundaries.
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