Downtown Ottawa parkade 'at risk of imminent collapse,' authorities say

Authorities have blocked off a part of downtown Ottawa as a four-storey parkade is at risk of collapsing.

Just before 5 p.m. on Tuesday, a 911 caller noticed damage to a column on one of the pillars in the parking garage at 265 Laurier Avenue W. and thought someone should investigate, Ottawa Fire Services said in a news release. When they arrived, they confirmed five to six girders in the building were bowing.

Scott Lockhart, the city's deputy chief building official, told CBC News engineers have reviewed the structure and believe the building is "at risk of imminent collapse."

Lockhart said the large amount of snow piled on the rooftop is the cause of the issue.

Ottawa police have cordoned off Slater Street between Bank and O'Connor Street. On social media, police said vehicles parked inside the parkade cannot be moved until further notice.

At 9 p.m. city staff, police, and representatives from parking management firm Indigo, which runs the parkade, were near the building keeping people away. They were also helping people who have a car parked in the structure. Taxi chits were made available for people unable to access their car.

Ann Burchell, who was visiting Ottawa from Toronto, told CBC News she has a car in the building. She said she planned to visit her friends in the eastern townships, but the situation has ruined her plans.

"I've never been in a circumstance like this and when I called the insurance company, the guy told me this is a new one," she said.

Pascale Ouellette also has a car in the building. She told CBC News she uses the parkade every time she comes in to work in the office.

"I'll retrieve my car when it can be retrieved, if it can be retrieved and we'll go from there," she said.

Lockhart, who was on the site, said the city plans to find a way to get the snow off the roof, then see if the building can be shored and get vehicles out if possible.

Police said no injuries have been reported.