Partial roof collapse at Canada mall, evacuation

ELLIOT LAKE, Ontario — A roof has partially collapsed at a busy mall in Canada, prompting an evacuation and a search for anyone who might have been injured.

A portion of the roof that serves as a parking area crumbled Saturday afternoon, exposing metal and concrete supports at the Algo Centre Mall in Elliot Lake. The center had been bustling with weekend shoppers.

Joe Drazil, a Zellers store employee, says a few cars appear to have fallen through the gaping hole near escalators. He says everybody was cleared from the mall.

The collapse also triggered a gas leak and prompted emergency officials to shut off the mall’s power.

Provincial police say they can’t confirm whether anyone is hurt or missing.

Mayor Rick Hamilton has declared a state of emergency.

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