FOG BLOG CANADA LOG: MAJOR FLOODING IN MONTREAL DUE TO A WATER MAIN BREAK!

Major Montreal water-main break causes rushing floods, large sinkhole A major water-main break flooded streets and buildings, submerged cars, and caused a large sinkhole in Montreal’s northeastern district of Saint-Michel early Friday.

The city issued a boil-water advisory in response to the incident for the boroughs of Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie and Villeray-Saint-Michel-Parc-Extension.

Officials say about 20 buildings in the area were evacuated as a preventive measure. Emergency crews were on site throughout the day pumping water out of homes and cars, restoring electricity which was cut off as a safety precaution, and slowly repairing the sinkhole that almost swallowed up a small vehicle.

As of 11 a.m., more than 11,000 people in the area were without power.

Firefighters said they would tour all affected buildings in order to check electrical panels and make sure it was safe to restore electricity. Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante was at the site with crews working to resolve the issue. She said says teams were working to plug the leak and fix the broken pipe.

Several streets in the area were closed off to traffic by police and firefighters. The incident happened at the intersection of 17th Avenue and Bélanger Street, around the borough’s Little Maghreb district.

Images and video of the event show dramatic scenes of rushing water filling the streets and submerging vehicles.

Once the water had dried up, a large sinkhole was visible, partially swallowing up a small car.

The city says the cause of the break is unknown but adds that parts of the underground infrastructure are 100 years old and have reached or exceeded their service life.

A sports centre in neighbouring Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie was opened to take in residents forced to leave their homes, and the Red Cross was providing assistance.