TORONTO - An additional 600 residents of the northern Ontario First Nation community of Attawapiskat are being evacuated due to a severe threat of flooding.

Ontario government officials say the breakup of the Attawapiskat River is creating ice jams that could pose significant risk of flooding in the community about 500 kilometres north of Timmins.

About 300 residents have been airlifted to Kapuskasing and Hearst, and hundreds more will be evacuated to Greenstone over the weekend.

Local leaders arranged for more residents of the James Bay community to be flown to safety following discussions with provincial and federal officials.

Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources is co-ordinating flight operations while Emergency Management Ontario is in charge of the well-being of residents.

All 861 residents of the northern Ontario First Nation of Kashechewan returned home earlier this week, 11 days after the community was evacuated due to the threat of severe flooding.

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