by Donald Wood
Last updated: 11:20 AM ET, Thu June 9, 2016
Photo via Twitter
Tourists visiting Ottawa in the coming days should avoid Rideau Street after a massive sinkhole formed, swallowing a parked van and causing detours for the area's most popular attractions.
The sinkhole formed Wednesday morning at 10:30 a.m. local time near the corner of Rideau Street and Sussex Drive, just two blocks away from the popular Fairmont Chateau Laurier hotel.
There were no reported injuries due to the sinkhole, but there were several closures as a result, including one of Ottawa's largest shopping malls, the Rideau Centre. In addition, several local businesses in the area were shut down temporarily due to a lack of hot water and natural gas.
The Shaw Centre was evacuated due to the sinkhole, but has since reopened.
CBC News and ABC News shared photos and video of the sinkhole on Twitter:
While the cause of the sinkhole is still being investigated, city officials in Ottawa are already trying to fix the issue by filling the hole with cement. Workers are pouring truck loads of concrete into the massive cavity, which crosses four lanes and is three stories deep.
City officials are expected to provide updates on the situation Thursday.
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