Thaindian News

May 11 (THAINDIAN NEWS) Four members of a family are missing in Canada after a sinkhole completely swallowed their home. A man, and woman, in their forties and two children believed to be ages 9 and 11 have vanished after the land under their home gave way, and the house was swallowed north of Montreal.

Rescue workers stated that the house had partially collapsed Monday night in St Jude, which is a town of 1000 people located near the Yamaska River. A sinkhole formed and took the house, along with it’s occupants. Although the house was a good distance away from the river, the house, three cars in front of it, and part of the road were all swallowed into the river. “It’s a pretty gigantic crater,” said Francois Gregoire, a Quebec fire department spokesman. “It’s hard imagining something like this. It’s pretty impressive.”

Gregoire stated that the rescuers were able to get to the house, but were not able to locate the missing family, because although they got to the house, it began to move and made it unsafe to continue in their search. “Then other firefighters from St-Hyacinthe came, got into the house and the same thing happened, so they also got out,” Quebec provincial police spokesman Ronald McInnis said. They will re enter once it is determined whether or not the house is stable enough to be entered.

Mayor Yves Bellefeuille said that the entire community is very much in shock, which is compounded by the fact that the home was not in a danger zone. At least five other homes in the area have since been evacuated, which effects about 20 people. An area of nearby road where to homes are located has been closed as well.