Toronto: saved two men locked in the elevator after the storm
After the bad weather of yesterday that devastated the city flooding streets and basements, even today will continue to rain.
Environment Canada states that in some parts of North York and in the central part there were between 50 and 75 mm of rain in a period of two or three hours last night, with roads, vehicles and basements immersed in water in a short time, at the A two-man elevator was blocked by a flood of a basement in a building near Alliance Avenue and Rockcliffe Boulevard in the Jane Street and St. Clair Avenue area. The two men had headed for the parking lot to check their vehicles not knowing that there was already water in the basement. When the elevator hit the basement, the electrical system is blown thus blocking the doors. Attempts to ask for help via mobile phone, first unsuccessfully due to the coverage of the telephone network being in an elevator in a subterranean, in the end they had to somehow break through the roof of the elevator where they got the cell phone coverage calling 911.
When the agents arrived on the scene, the couple had little room left inside. The two policemen who arrived first equipped themselves with a “crowbar”, then swam to the elevator and opened the doors thus saving the two men.
Reportedly, the men managed to keep their heads out of the water while standing on the handrails inside the elevator.
The Toronto Police Service Marine Unit was also called to rescue the occupants from flooded vehicles in the Lower Simcoe Street and Bremner Boulevard area.
The monuments of the center, including the Scotiabank Arena, the Union Station and the Rogers Center, have been flooded.
The TTC says that the flooding forced the transit agency to suspend the service between the stations of Finch West and Wilson this morning. The shuttle buses are running.
Some surface streets have also been hit by high water levels, including the King 504 tram.
Metrolinx spokesperson Anne Marie Aikins said GO Transit and UP Express trains said they were back on duty after last night’s suspension due to bad weather.
Mallory Cunnington, a public service company spokesman, said there were two isolated problems: one in the River Street area, Queen Street East and Gerrard Street, and the other near Davenport Road and Symington Avenue.
“Both have the same cause: we have seen many floods, all the water in the city, we have crews on site for both, now with these types of interruptions, when we see the flooded equipment, especially in our underground network, it takes a lot of time to release that water.
Although an advisory on weather conditions previously issued by Environment Canada has now expired, there are still rains in Toronto today.
Mayor John Tory said he was in contact with the police, hydropower and transit officials to keep abreast of the situation.
