SAINTE-MONIQUE, Quebec — A significant landslide struck the small municipality of Sainte-Monique, northeast of Montreal, early Wednesday morning, sweeping away a home and damaging a road. Fortunately, no injuries were reported as the house was unoccupied at the time of the incident.

Sylvain Gallant, the regional civil security director, confirmed that the landslide occurred around 6 a.m. and created a massive hole measuring over 300 meters long and 100 meters wide. "The house was not occupied at the time of the landslide, so we don’t fear there will be any casualties at this time, which is good news," Gallant stated during a press briefing.

The homeowner had left the residence to alert neighbors about the potential danger when the landslide occurred. In response to the situation, three nearby homes were evacuated as a precautionary measure. Gallant noted, "There’s no reintegration [into the homes] planned for today. That’s for sure."

The cause of the landslide has not yet been determined, but officials have pointed to recent heavy rainfall in the area as a likely contributing factor. "It’s too early to say exactly why the landslide occurred, but we do know that there has been a lot of rain in recent days," Gallant explained.

Local authorities, including firefighters, are on-site to ensure the safety of residents and assess the situation. André Lamontagne, the minister responsible for Centre-du-Québec, expressed his support for the community via social media, stating, "My best thoughts are with the community." He also mentioned that a technical team from the Trois-Rivières fire department has been deployed, along with specialists from the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility.

Sainte-Monique, which has a population of approximately 500, is known for its susceptibility to landslides. The municipality is taking the necessary precautions to protect its residents as the situation develops. Authorities are closely monitoring the area, and further assessments will be conducted to determine the full extent of the damage and the potential for additional landslides.