Large sinkhole shuts part of Canadian capital

A large sinkhole closed down part of the Canadian capital and forced the evacuation of businesses a few blocks from the national parliament, three weeks before Ottawa is due to host a summit of the leaders of Canada, Mexico and the United States.

The sinkhole formed on a normally busy downtown street in an area that has been under construction for Ottawa’s new light-rail transit (LRT) system.

City officials said the cause of the sinkhole was not yet known but earlier gas and water leaks have been contained.