November 22, 2006

STORM DAMAGE

The roof of a two storey building housing Hastings Bowling Lanes and several other businesses, uncluding two restaurants and a video store, collapsed during record rains last week.

Storm buffets West Coast

A major Pacific storm has been buffeting B.C.’s coastal communities for more than a week. Strong winds gusting up to 100 kilometres an hour and heavy rains pouring down in buckets caused power outages in several lower mainland and Fraser Valley communities, with some outages lasting for two to three days.

A four storey building under construction in Vancouver collapsed during the storm last Wednesday. Fortunately no-one was injured as the workers were on a break at the time. While the cause of the collapse has not been confirmed, fire officials have indicated that the water may have been a factor.

In Burnaby a week earlier, the roof of a two storey building on Hastings Street collapsed under the weight of the heavy rains. A bowling alley and several adjacent businesses were forced to close and the building may have to be demolished.

Early speculation was that, while the water on the roof may have been a factor, it is not necessarily the main reason for the collapse. Further investigation will be necessary before the final cause can be determined.

And the storm is not over yet! Predictions are that the Lower Mainland may be in for more heavy winds and rain in the days ahead. An estimated one million residents of Greater Vancouver are still under a boil-water advisory, and it is not known when this advisory will be lifted. Many stores in the area have run out of bottled water as the uncertainty causes residents to stock-pile as a precaution.

JOC NEWS SERVICE

Print | Email | Comment