SINKHOLES IN CANADIAN'S QUEBEC BAFFLE EXPERTS

QUEBEC, Canada -Engineers and geologists are examining dozens of deep holes that appeared in the ground in Quebec City's north end this week, as residents are being urged to leave their homes for safer locations.

Some big enough to swallow a car are collapsing the earth in a Quebec City neighbourhood and leaving experts baffled. About 40 of the holes ranging between six metres wide and about five meters deep have appeared in the last week, prompting an evacuation order from the city.

• Soil experts have moved in to take samples to try and figure out what's behind the mysterious collapses in the north-end Quebec City neighbourhood. Officials said the field where the sinkholes began appearing used to be a sandpit.
• Daniel Lessard, head of Quebec City's engineering department, says several tests were conducted on the soil and the results should be available in about two weeks. Most of the holes cracked open in a field but another was in a driveway. Some have gotten bigger in recent days.

City officials are being cautious in dealing with the sinkholes because of the potential for danger. A family of four was killed in St-Jude, Que., about a year ago when their house was swept away by a landslide. People in 15 homes and one business have been ordered to clear out.

Source: CTV,CBC