Jennifer McPhee
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (July 20/01) - The rain fell and the roof caved in.

Water and structural damage is extensive inside the highways building. - Jennifer McPhee/NNSL photo

The Department of Transportation highways building was shut down Thursday after heavy rain washed gravel to one section of the roof, causing it to fall in.

Security was alerted to the problem at 4:30 a.m. after an alarm went of. Most of the 30 employees were later sent home and power to the building cut off.

Although owner Carl Lust won't have a damage estimate for five days, the 16.6 millimetres of rain which fell on Yellowknife yesterday wreaked havoc on the upper floor.

Large piles of gravel, beams and roofing are scattered on the floor and water is still leaking into the building. Computers, files, and desks were also damaged inside the 19-year-old building.

"It's going to take some time, but the sooner we get this stuff out of here, the less water damage we'll have," said Joe Auge, acting deputy minister of public works and services.

The department will temporarily relocate inside the Yellowknife Centre.