By Phedre Dumouriez
The following is an update on a story reported earlier in the week regarding the recent discovery of an underground network of forgotten shops, apartments and public spaces located directly below the Uptown area Asphyxiation Point.
Originally, the entrance to this dark, hidden world was through a series of connecting sewer and storm drains; difficult to access, not to mention unsanitary and dangerous. However, thanks to some more shifting and collapsing of Island infrastructure, more resources have been put into clearing out the access points.
It all started with a response to a 911 call about a fire at the Muffin Tops bakery on Thursday evening. This reporter - being the one to have made the call, ironically enough - was there live and in person for what happened next. As the firefighter who responded dealt with the seemingly easily-controlled blaze, destruction of another sort was occurring right under our feet.
It's not certain what caused the eventual sink hole which opened up under the firetruck and eventually sucked in most of the vehicle into its depths, but the argument was made afterwards for wooden support beams which had rotted over time.
Just like with the original cave-in that revealed the first arteries of old tunnels leading into this sub-terrain, this next collapse helped to educate construction and city planners on how best to shore up the area so that further erosion would not occur. Work to strengthen the cavern roof and fill in the sink hole continues, but the question still remains...
Now that the tunnels into the area have been cleared, and once the integrity of the area has been re-secured, what then? Even with the warnings, fences and razor-wire, more and more residents have been rumored to be sneaking into the space. If left open, it could find itself the haven for more than just the homeless and hopeless.
Only time will tell.
Originally, the entrance to this dark, hidden world was through a series of connecting sewer and storm drains; difficult to access, not to mention unsanitary and dangerous. However, thanks to some more shifting and collapsing of Island infrastructure, more resources have been put into clearing out the access points.
It all started with a response to a 911 call about a fire at the Muffin Tops bakery on Thursday evening. This reporter - being the one to have made the call, ironically enough - was there live and in person for what happened next. As the firefighter who responded dealt with the seemingly easily-controlled blaze, destruction of another sort was occurring right under our feet.
It's not certain what caused the eventual sink hole which opened up under the firetruck and eventually sucked in most of the vehicle into its depths, but the argument was made afterwards for wooden support beams which had rotted over time.
Just like with the original cave-in that revealed the first arteries of old tunnels leading into this sub-terrain, this next collapse helped to educate construction and city planners on how best to shore up the area so that further erosion would not occur. Work to strengthen the cavern roof and fill in the sink hole continues, but the question still remains...
Now that the tunnels into the area have been cleared, and once the integrity of the area has been re-secured, what then? Even with the warnings, fences and razor-wire, more and more residents have been rumored to be sneaking into the space. If left open, it could find itself the haven for more than just the homeless and hopeless.
Only time will tell.
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