OTTAWA — A gaping hole has opened up in a busy downtown thoroughfare just blocks from Parliament Hill.
Police say 911 calls started coming in at mid-morning and they have been blocking off streets surrounding the cave-in at the corner of Rideau St. and Sussex Drive.
The van on Rideau Street is now under water #ottnews #sinkhole pic.twitter.com/l6Gk5WjM2s
— CTV Ottawa (@ctvottawa) June 8, 2016
"You could see the hole developing. When I got up higher, you could look down into the hole and see the water rising in the hole and the street collapsing into the hole,” One witness told.
No injuries have been reported, although a taxi van is believed to have been swallowed up by the sinkhole, which television footage shows was full of water from a broken water main.
The city says nearby buildings have been evacuated because of the smell of gas.
Guys I just saw a car get sucked into the sinkhole #ottawasinkhole #sinkhole #ottawa pic.twitter.com/7YyaHpzudr
— Anne-Sophie Alarie (@_Sophster) June 8, 2016
Water service in the area has been cut and traffic has been re-routed.
The road itself had been limited to bus and taxi traffic only since last summer due to road and subway construction.
Nearby buildings have been evacuated due to the smell of gas. Please follow instructions from building management https://t.co/YYMTGAkYtv
— City of Ottawa (@ottawacity) June 8, 2016
This is the second sinkhole to open up in downtown Ottawa in recent years.
This is the second sinkhole to open up in the downtown in recent years.
In 2014, another road just a few blocks away collapsed. Officials blamed it on unexpected soil conditions encountered during a tunnelling operation.
MORE National ARTICLES
Bill Morneau Says Feds Not Considering Extended EI Benefits For Any More Regions
The federal gave extended EI benefits to 15 economic regions of the country, including three — Edmonton, southern Saskatchewan and B.C.'s southern interior — added May 13 after they met government requirements for the extra cash.
Bill Morneau Says Feds Not Considering Extended EI Benefits For Any More Regions
Federal Government Moves Forward On Plain Packaging For Tobacco Products
OTTAWA — Health Minister Jane Philpott says the federal government plans to consult Canadians about proposed measures to require plain packaging for tobacco products.
Federal Government Moves Forward On Plain Packaging For Tobacco Products
Lawyer For Bosma's Accused Killer Points Finger At Co-accused In Closing Arguments
HAMILTON — The lawyer for a man charged with murder in the death of Tim Bosma says it was his client's co-accused that shot and killed the Hamilton father.
Lawyer For Bosma's Accused Killer Points Finger At Co-accused In Closing Arguments
'Will Of Canadians' Needs To Back Any Reforms To Electoral System, Say Liberals
OTTAWA — The federal government says it will seek the public's support for whatever changes it ends up deciding to propose for Canada's electoral system.
'Will Of Canadians' Needs To Back Any Reforms To Electoral System, Say Liberals
Alberta NDP Says Kathleen Wynne Affair Shows Wildrose Trying To Scuttle Energy East
Government House Leader Brian Mason said while the National Energy Board makes decisions on pipelines, building political bridges with other provinces is critical
Alberta NDP Says Kathleen Wynne Affair Shows Wildrose Trying To Scuttle Energy East
B.C. Floods Could Be Canada's Most Costly Natural Disaster
The risk of a devastating flood in British Columbia's Lower Mainland is increasing due to rising sea levels and other impacts of climate change.