A water main break in New Westminster, B.C., forced about 50 residents to leave their homes.
East Columbia Street is closed between McBride Boulevard and Richmond Street, with huge pools of water completely blocking Columbia Street between Richmond and Front streets.
Some residents on Francis Way have been forced from their homes as a precaution.
The New Westminster Fire Department confirmed that water poured into lobbies, destroyed cars in parkades, and ruined storage lockers.
Patrick Mauro and his wife were asked to vacate their home.
They said it was around midnight when they heard a loud bang that shook their ceiling.
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“We went to investigate upstairs to see if a dresser had fallen over somehow and it sounded like there was a torrential downpour outside,” Mauro said.
He could see water rushing onto his neighbour’s patio so he ran out with his neighbour and a few shovels to try and divert water away and he called 911.
Mauro said the water was rising and it was washing away dirt and eventually a tree came down.
“It was just like a waterfall,” he said. “Loud.”
He does not know when they will be allowed home.
Traffic is being detoured westbound between Braid and Brunette streets and crews are at the scene trying to stop the leak.
There are also some power outages in the area and those could last a few days while the repairs are made.
Some water did get into the long-term care home in the area but it has been mitigated and remains operational.
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