The massive sinkhole formed next to a shopping mall in downtown Ottawa, caused a gas leak and forced the evacuation of all nearby businesses. / AFP PHOTO /
OTTAWA, Canada (AFP) — A massive sinkhole opened up Wednesday on a busy road in the heart of Ottawa, forcing the evacuation of a nearby hotel, convention center and major shopping center in the Canadian capital city.
No injuries were reported but a parked van and a lamp post were swallowed up as the hole quickly grew in size, stretching the width of the four-lane road.
Authorities pointed to a watermain break as the likely cause, but construction of a subway line in the area was also suspected.
“No city wants to see this kind of a sinkhole, but I can tell you that if you looked back in the last year there’s probably a major sink hole in every city at least once a week somewhere in North America or around the world,” Mayor Jim Watson told a press conference.
The hole, at a busy intersection only two blocks from parliament, was expected to disrupt traffic and bus services for weeks or months, and possibly a North American leaders summit at the end of June.
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