Chaos erupted in Calgary Tuesday night as a major water main break unleashed a torrent of water, flooding the Trans-Canada Highway and trapping motorists. The rupture, occurring near 16th Avenue and Sarcee Trail in Bowness, tore apart the pavement with a force that stunned witnesses.
First responders raced to the scene, battling rapidly rising water to rescue thirteen people stranded in their vehicles. One car was completely submerged, pinned against a railway bridge as firefighters deployed inflatable rafts to reach those in peril. The scene was described as terrifying, with drivers fearing for their lives.
Javer Mohamed, caught in the sudden surge, recounted a harrowing experience. “The water was getting bigger and bigger… I thought I was going to die,” he said, recalling the desperate struggle to escape his vehicle as the floodwaters rose around him. He and his friend were ultimately pulled to safety by a firefighter.
The break’s location immediately raised concerns, as it occurred near the site of a catastrophic rupture of the Bearspaw South feeder main in June 2024. That earlier incident crippled the city’s water supply for months, leading to widespread rationing and a scramble to identify and repair vulnerabilities.
Witnesses described a deafening sound just before the road gave way. Sawyer Colbourne, who captured one of the first videos of the event, said it was “almost like a boom or a giant crack” before the pavement “literally exploded” beneath a nearby car. Her own vehicle became momentarily stuck in the rushing water.
City officials swiftly enacted Stage 4 outdoor water restrictions and issued a boil-water advisory for several communities, including Montgomery, Point McKay, and Parkdale. Residents were also urged to conserve water indoors as the city activated its emergency operations centre and municipal emergency plan.
Approximately 2,000 homes and 100 businesses were left without water service. Reports of significantly reduced water pressure also surfaced in areas like Parkdale, the Beltline, and downtown Calgary, highlighting the widespread impact of the infrastructure failure.
The city is currently assessing the damage and investigating the cause of the break, but early indications point to a problem with the Bearpaw South feeder main. This latest incident underscores the urgent need to address the aging water infrastructure that serves the city.
For many Calgarians, the event brought back unsettling memories of the 2024 water crisis. The proximity to the previous break, coupled with the dramatic scenes of Tuesday night, has fueled anxieties about the reliability of the city’s vital water system.
As emergency crews continue their work, the focus remains on restoring water service, ensuring public safety, and determining the full extent of the damage. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of essential infrastructure and the importance of proactive investment in its maintenance and renewal.
