THE ST. JEAN VIANNEY, QUEBEC SINKHOLE-1971

ST. JEAN VIANNEY, QUEBEC SINKHOLE-1971

• Occurred on Tuesday May 4, 1971
• Located 135 miles north of Quebec, Canada
• The sinkhole centered under a residential area
• 31 people lost their lives and 35 homes destroyed
• Measured larger than four football fields

What causes sinkholes to occur?

Sinkholes can happen when large amounts of water erodes land or if the rock layer underground shifts. Rain and rainwater runoff seep down through the layers of the ground eventually reaching soluble bedrock. The ground and rocks eventually wear away causing the ground to give way and cave in.

There are several factors that led to creating this historical natural disastrous sinkhole. This particular area of Quebec has a clay-based soil which can weaken easily from erosion. After a record breaking winter of snowfall and heavy spring rains the clay soil gave way under a subdivision of houses. Despite the massive size of the sinkhole that swallowed up 35 homes, the life devastation was minimal because most people were at work or school at the time of the disaster.

THE TRAGIC SINKHOLE EVENTS IN ACTION!

QUEBEC

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INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE SINKHOLE!!!

• The neighborhood dogs were "stir crazy" sensing something was wrong
• The sinkhole measure 100 feet deep, 300 yards wide and a third of a mile long
• Property damage estimated around $1 million
• Quebec had previous signs that the ground under them was weakening
• Canadian government established a new community for the survivors and people still visit the spot in where it was