Burst pipe floods central Edmonton seniors housing complex

Approximately 50 seniors at an apartment complex in central Edmonton were displaced after a water leak Sunday morning.

Edmonton Fire Rescue Services told CTV News crews responded around 6:30 a.m. to reports of a water issue at Ansgar Villa, a seniors housing complex at 101 Avenue and 120 Street. EPCOR was called out to help 15 minutes later.

Firefighters said they saw water streaming from the fourth floor into the lobby, with approximately eight inches of water on the ground.

Initially, ETS buses were dispatched to help keep those affected by flooding warm, but residents were able to move to other parts of the building that were not affected.

Investigators say the cause of the flooding was a broken sprinkler line on the building's fourth floor. Residents from that floor down were displaced, with some units suffering serious damage, EFRS said in a statement.

'A MAJOR FLOOD'

According to the property management company, GEF Seniors Housing, 42 out of 59 units on the first four floors were affected.

"The seniors who live in those units had to be moved as the units are currently uninhabitable," said Raymond Swonek, GEF Seniors Housing CEO, in a statement.

All affected seniors were relocated to other buildings by 3 p.m. Monday, Swonek added. Twenty seniors are staying with family members, and the other 22 are staying in units at other facilities managed by the same company.

"This is considered to be a major flood, and the tenants will be out of their units for at least a few weeks," Swonek said. "The water damage is extensive, and a lot of drywall will have to be removed to fully dry the wet areas."

Since the flooding occurred on private property, EPCOR says the property owner is responsible for repairs. Once completed, EPCOR staff will return to inspect for any further issues.

Officials did not have an estimate for the total damages.