Ceiling collapse at Oakville Place

(Updated) Some frightening moments inside a popular shopping mall in our region, as a section of ceiling at Oakville Place suddenly collapsed this afternoon.

It happened around one this afternoon inside The Bay. People CHCH News spoke with describe it like glass shattering, dishes breaking – some people even said they saw smoke. Fortunately no one was hurt – but it definitely was a scary situation.

Part of the second floor came crashing down landing on the escalator. Luckily no one was on it at the time but nearby shoppers feared the worst.

“I just heard people coming out screaming, saying that there’s collapsing of the elevators going on, so it was pretty intense.”

People who were inside the mall at the time didn’t know what was happening. Anna works right next door and she rushed over to see what all the commotion was.

“I was just booking an appointment and then I heard a big bang, and then I heard glass breaking so I figured it was a table full of dishware breaking, so I ran over to help whoever was in need. And then I just seen (sic) a whole bunch of people, a lot of ladies freaking out, screaming, a couple (of) older ladies running out. One lady, actually ran into my salon, because she was shaking because it had happened when she was right beside it.”

Emergency crews quickly attended the scene and The Bay closed its doors to investigate.

“Somehow the ceiling and the roof collapsed and all’s (sic) I can say thank God no one was on that escalator because this could have been a greater tragedy.”

The Bay has been working with a building inspector to determine a cause and find out when the store can reopen.