A major water main break flooded parts of downtown Montreal near the Jacques-Cartier bridge on Friday morning, causing major disruptions to people commuting during rush hour.
Since around 6 a.m., Notre-Dame Street has been blocked off as of the intersection at Frontenac Street. Montreal’s fire department described the water main break as “really major.”
There was major flooding near the intersection of Ste-Catherine Street and de Lorimier Avenue, as well as on René-Lévesque Boulevard.
As a result, the city recommends residents not drink tap water for the time being.
Video captured Friday shows water bursting out of a ruptured main in downtown Montreal, near the Jacques Cartier Bridge.
When the accumulation was at its peak, water was seen flowing from the street into the St. Lawrence River.
The water has since gone down significantly, but the situation is not completely resolved, according to Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante.
She is urging everyone to avoid the area for the rest of the day.
“It was an impressive scene this morning, this giant geyser,” she said during a news conference on Friday morning. “It’s really hard on citizens mentally and physically,” who just had to deal with floods from torrential rains, she said.
The Ville-Marie borough council office will be open Friday to people who are affected by the water main break.
Quebec Premier François Legault posted on X that his “thoughts are with the residents in the area and the city employees who are trying to solve the problem.”
Thousands without power, bus routes affected
Hydro-Québec preventatively cut off power in the area at the request of emergency services, leaving at least 12,515 clients without electricity as of Friday morning.
The Société de transport de Montréal (STM) said several routes have been affected, namely the 10, 15, 45, 150, 410 and 430 buses.
Papineau Metro station is still functional and precautionary measures like installing sand bags have been taken.
Montreal fire department chief Martin Guilbault said evacuations of nearby buildings are underway to make sure everyone is safe. Firefighters are also making sure live power lines don’t get into the water on the street as they work to dry it out.
Those who can’t stay in their home will be under the care of the Red Cross.
“Stay safe, don’t cross the water, respect perimeters for now and let us do our job and as soon as possible we will get your houses pumped,” said Guilbault.
He says it’s too early to know what caused the break. The two-metre drinking water conduit that broke was installed in 1985, said Chantal Morissette, director of the water service at a news conference.
Eugene Shaeelmikov lives in the are and went out to get pastries for breakfast when he saw the chaos on the street. He told CBC he expects his home to be “completely flooded by now” since his garage and unit are underground.
“At least it’s entertaining,” he said. “I’m definitely sure my neighbours will be thrilled to know what’s going on.”
He’s documenting the flooding to make sure he and his neighbours will be able to file their insurance claims.
Just last month, another water main broke near the MUHC.