A number of homes near the village of St. Lazare in western Manitoba have flooded after water from the Qu'Appelle River and the Assiniboine River broke through dikes.

"It's kind of shocking, overwhelming and it's indescribable until you actually see it," said Connie Chartier-Tanguay. The house belonging to her mother, Susan Chartier, was one of those that flooded, in the community, located approximately 160 kilometres northwest of Brandon.

"There's nothing we can do, so we just hope for the best," said Susan Chartier.

The current is too strong to allow her to to use a boat to check her home to see how bad the damage is inside.

She's one of 23 evacuees forced to relocate. All of the homes flooded are outside of a ring dike, which is protecting the village of St. Lazare.

"We're into new levels, unchartered to us, so it's going to be a challenge," said Martin Dupont, the mayor of St. Lazare.

People in the area said 1995 was the last time flooding was very bad in the area, but residents add this year the flooding is worse.

Residents forced to relocate aren't sure when they'll be able to return to assess damage at their flooded homes.

The province, meanwhile, said water levels in St. Lazare have crested and are now declining.

- with a report from CTV's Josh Crabb