Mouldy Kashechewan homes drive more residents to Kapuskasing

More residents from the Kashechewan First Nation will be evacuated to the town of Kapuskasing this week.

Repeated flooding has caused mold to grow in some of homes in the community, making air quality unsafe.

Kapuskasing evacuation co-ordinator Gerry Demeules said eight homes have been set up for the newest evacuees.

About 25 people will be flown into Kapuskasing in the next few days.

Air quality testing is still underway in Kashechewan homes and Desmeules said he does not know how many more people will need to relocate.

"Hopefully we will be able to accommodate all the people and, if not, we'll have to figure out what we can do from there," he said.

"As we secure more places and work with our landlords in town, we'll bring some more people in ... until everybody has a safe place to stay."

There are 435 people from Kashechewan still living in Kapuskasing since severe flooding in 2014 forced people out of their homes — about one third of the reserve population.