Eastbound traffic will be closed for one to two days after a brick retaining wall collapsed on Oak Bay Avenue at the Fort Street Junction this morning.
A fence, trees and what looked like electric wires were protruding from the dirt, which was spread across the south side of Oak Bay Avenue.
As the retaining wall collapse is in a high-traffic area, there is concern that there could be someone under the rubble.
“We have a dog coming in to see if it can sense any people underneath. There is a bus stop there so that is definitely a concern,” said Victoria Battalion Chief Vince Cullen.
Eastbound traffic will be closed for at least 1 or 2 days due to the rest of the wall potentially being unstable. Thanks for the help @VicPDK9 pic.twitter.com/ZHYX5u9FyU
— Victoria Police (@vicpdcanada) December 19, 2017
Ricky de Souza, a principal at St. Christopher’s Montessori School, appeared shaken up after his vehicle was struck by material as he drove east on Oak Bay Avenue just after 8 a.m. Tuesday.
“I heard kind of a boom and a loud noise,” he said. “Whether it was an explosion or a boom or an accident, who knows. I couldn’t see. It was all of a sudden just dirt and rocks and something striking my car.”
DeSouza pulled over to safety, got out and directed traffic away from the pile of rubble before police arrived a short time later, he said. “People walk right in front of there. The first concern is someone may have been under that rubble.”
The buildings in the area have been evacuated and emergency services are waiting on engineers to figure out next step.
Victoria police, City of Victoria staff and Victoria Fire Department are on the scene. Traffic will remain closed for one or two days because the wall could potentially be unstable, according to VicPD.
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cvanreeuwyk@oakbaynews.com
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