A family of 4 dies in sinkhole in Canada - photo gallery

A family of four in Saint Jude, Canada were killed Monday, May 10th when their house was buried in a sink-hole. The resulting crater was a third of a mile long. Several structures and the central road were destroyed.

The New York Times reports, "The landslide took place so quickly and silently on Monday night that many neighbors could not understand why their electricity and water supply had been disrupted. The collapse removed a large section of road, sending a pickup truck into the crater. It took the injured driver about an hour to crawl to safety."

The National Post says, "After a day of dimming hope, it was announced shortly after 6 p.m. on Tuesday that rescuers had pulled the body of Mr. Préfontaine, 45, from the house. Two hours later, officials confirmed that the bodies of his wife and daughters were also found beneath the mud that had surged into the basement."

All Headline News comments, "Five other homes in Saint-Jude were evacuated due to the 500-yard sinkhole. Although there is no official explanation as to what caused the sinkhole, experts speculate the sinkhole is a type of landslide known as a “lateral spread.” The area contains soil known as “quick clay,” that if disturbed can become a hazard leading to such tragic occurrences as sinkholes."

In Quebec, Canada, a family of 4 died when their house fell 100 feet into a sinkhole. The land moved so silently that nearby residents weren't immediately aware of the disaster.