Update 9 p.m.: Unstable crane causes evacuations near Dutch Village Rd in Halifax

Roughly 100 people near Dutch Village Road in Halifax have been evacuated Thursday evening due to a crane that was at risk of collapse, with crews expected to remain on scene overnight.

In an update at 9 p.m., Halifax Professional Fire Fighters say says experts are coming in from outside the city to assess and develop a plan.

“Emergency personnel are establishing contingency plans and maintaining the safety perimeter around the incident,” says the union.

Impacts to businesses and residents are expected to remain in place for an extended period of time.

The city says crews from the province’s labour department are on scene and as of 7:30 p.m., the scene was deemed “secure” and “safe”, however evacuations remain in place due to precaution.

It was around 5 p.m. when the union said living on 15 Supreme Court had to evacuate after the call came in around 4:40 p.m.

The crane was upright but “deemed unstable”, says the city.

Just after 6 p.m., the road closures due to the incident expanded.

You are asked to avoid:

• Dutch Village Road

• Titus Street

• Main Avenue

• McFatridge Road

• Alma Crescent

• Andrew Street

• Deal Street

• Percy Street

• Supreme Court

Registration Centre

For those who are evacuated, a registration centre is open with the Red Cross on site at the Beechville Lakeside Timberlea Community Centre on St. Margarete’s Bay Road.

If enough people require overnight accommodations, an evacuation centre will be at this site.

Halifax Transit

Several Transit routes are affected due to the road closures.

They are 2, 3, 4, 135, 136, 137 and 138. They are on detour until further notice.