Workers started tearing down a section of the garage on Wednesday afternoon so engineers could continue their investigation, a city spokesperson said. CBC
A section of a parking garage in downtown Ottawa collapsed early Wednesday morning, sending chunks of concrete and part of an upper wall crashing down. No injuries have been reported, but about 50 vehicles remain trapped inside the six-level structure. The garage extends from Slater Street to Laurier Avenue West, just west of O’Connor Street.
Ottawa Fire Services stated that a 911 call came in around 5 p.m. on Tuesday, reporting damage to a column in the garage. Firefighters arrived to find several girders bending under pressure. As they searched for people inside, they noticed cracks in the cement columns supporting the upper levels. Around 4:45 a.m. on Wednesday, part of the structure gave way.
A photo taken from a nearby building shows the collapsed section resting on the ground floor, covered in snow. Scott Lockhart, the city’s deputy chief building official, described the incident as a “pancake collapse.” He explained that the floors fell in sequence, one after the other, directly over the entrance. This also destroyed the main ramp, making it impossible for vehicles to exit.
At this point, officials have no concrete plan to remove the vehicles. However, contractors are assessing the damage and working on a solution.
Warnings Before the Collapse
Seven hours before the collapse, engineers warned that the garage was at “imminent risk” due to heavy snow on the roof. However, the exact cause has yet to be confirmed. Patrice Dumais, the city’s building inspection program manager, said crews are now evaluating whether other sections of the garage need to be removed or stabilized.
John Buck, Ottawa’s chief building official, assured the public that safety is the priority. The remaining structure will either be reinforced or demolished, depending on its condition.
Normand Tetreault, an engineer specializing in snow accumulation, believes the weight of snow and rain may have pushed the structure beyond its limits. He suggested that removing the snow earlier could have prevented the collapse.
Demolition and Investigation Underway
By Wednesday afternoon, demolition crews had started working on the damaged section. Heavy machinery was seen tearing down parts of the structure facing Slater Street. The city confirmed that the demolition is necessary to ensure the area remains safe and to allow engineers to continue their investigation.
Ottawa police have closed Slater Street between Bank and O’Connor streets. The north sidewalk on Laurier is also blocked off. City staff and representatives from Indigo, the parking management company, are on-site assisting vehicle owners.
GWL Realty Advisors, the garage’s owner, released a statement expressing concern about the collapse. They confirmed that they are working with the city and emergency crews to secure the site and determine the cause of the incident.
Frustration Among Vehicle Owners
Many people whose vehicles are stuck inside the garage visited the scene on Wednesday. Some took photos, while others tried to spot their cars among the wreckage.
Nick Denton, who had parked a rental truck in the garage, saw his vehicle just outside the collapsed area. “If anything else falls, it’s coming down on the truck,” he said.
Another driver, Dana Vaughan, frequently parks in the garage and had noticed a lot of dripping water earlier in the week. “I thought it was just melting snow, but it must have been leaking through,” she said.
Tim Sheffield and Mae Whalen, who parked their car in the garage on Tuesday, initially feared it was crushed. However, after arriving at the scene, they spotted what they believed was their vehicle still intact. “Now I’m feeling optimistic,” Sheffield said.
With demolition already underway, it remains uncertain whether any vehicles can be retrieved.
