The McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) has no potable water after a major aqueduct failure overnight near the Glen site.
This is causing problems for the Royal Victoria Hospital, the Cedars Cancer Centre, the Montreal Chest Institute, the Montreal Children’s Hospital and the MUHC Research Institute.
Ambulances are being diverted to other hospitals, while people who have appointments at outpatient clinics – or for surgery – being asked not to show up on Friday.
“Our priority is to ensure the safety of patients and staff present in the affected establishments. We are working in collaboration with the City of Montreal to restore the situation as quickly as possible,” said MUHC spokesperson Rebecca Burns in a press release.
The water main break happened around 1:30 a.m. Friday in a pipe running under the intersection of Maisonneuve and Décarie Blvd. Water began leaking onto the roads, making travel in the area difficult.
At around 7 a.m., city of Montreal crews were able to “control” the break, and the water stopped leaking from the roadway.
“Staff who drive to the hospital and who absolutely must get there must use rue St-Jacques to access the parking lot,” said Burns.
-with files from La Presse Canadienne