Major water main break in Montreal's Saint-Michel leaves flooded basements, large sinkhole

Jean-Franois Boyer was awakenedshortly after 4:30 a.m. Friday morning by someone pounding on his door urging him to look outside his third-storey apartment in Montreal's Saint-Michel neighbourhood.

"I looked down from the balcony and saw that my car had water halfway up its doors," said Boyer. "I didn't know what to do."

A major water main broke Friday morning, flooding streets in the neighbourhood andfilling severalbasements and vehicles.

Boyer made his way down and wadedthrough knee-deep water to get to his vehicle, which had started to flood. He managed to get the car moving and did his best to drain it before taking in the mess that Blanger Street had become.

"It's incredible," he said about his street. "It's the first time I've seen anythinglike this."

Emergency officialsspent hours pumpingwater out of several Saint-Michel homes. Mayor Valrie Plante said the situation was under control during a news conference Friday afternoon. The city says it has shut thevalves in the area so water is no longer flowing out.

Policeand firefighters closedoff a large section of the area this morning from Jean-Talon Street toBlangerStreet and between 15th and 20th avenues.

Images and videos takenfrom the neighbourhood show deep and rushingwater filling the streets and multiple vehicles partially submerged. At least one fell into a large sinkhole in the aftermath of the flooding.

The Montreal fire department says 20 buildings near the water main break located atthe intersection ofBlanger Street and 17th Avenuewere evacuated as a precaution.

The city says the 36-inch pipe dates back to 1974 and was on its radar, due to be replaced in the next few years. The city says it doesn't know why it burst prematurely.

WATCH| Vehicles submerged in deep, rushing water:

Major flood hits Montreal neighbourhood

1 year ago

Duration 0:24

Police and fire crews responded to a major flood caused by a water-main break in Montreal's Saint-Michel neighbourhood.

Boil-water advisory in effect

This afternoon, the city issued a boil-water advisory for parts of Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie and Villeray-Saint-Michel-Parc-Extension. The areas covered can be seen here.

People need to boil tap water for at least one minute before drinking it or using it for brushing their teeth. It can be used for showers and washing. The advisory is in effect until further notice.

At a news conference this morning,Montrealfireoperations chiefMartin Guilbaultsaid it is not yet clear how many residents are affected, but he says several basements have been flooded.

Hydro-Qubec has also cut off electricity for some 40,000 people in the area, Guilbault said, in order to preventwater from coming into contact with electricity particularly for dwellings with electrical panels located in the basement.

Guilbault said the operation to completely fix the pipe "will take some time."The Socit de transport de Montral(STM)has sent three buses to the area to help with the evacuations.

In a tweet, Montreal Mayor Valrie Plante said the tienne-Desmarteauarena in theRosemontLa Petite-Patrie borough is open to welcome those who need support.

"My thoughts go out to the citizens of the affected sector," she wrote.

Boyer says he's happy to be living on the third-floor considering the damage done to several residences in his neighbourhood. The state of his car, however, worries him.

"I'll have to find out what can be done because with all of the water that went inside I don't know if it's drivable," he said.

The Montreal fire department is urging motorists to avoid the area.