A large explosion was reported at the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls at the Canada-U.S. Border.

The loud “bang” forced the bridge to close.

“Footage from the scene appears to show a car entering the US from Canada via the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls and shows damage to the checkpoint,” Mirror reports.

“Smoke is seen bellowing from the sky,” the outlet added.

Authorities are reportedly investigating the situation, and there haven’t been any reported injuries.

Mirror reports:

Authorities are currently investigating. The Niagara International Transportation Technology Coalition shared on social media that a crash reported at 11:51 a.m. has closed the bridge.

Governor Kathy Hochul said in a tweet: “I’ve been briefed on the incident on the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls and we are closely monitoring the situation. State agencies are on site and ready to assist.”

Niagara Gazette has more information:

The Rainbow Bridge has been closed to all traffic amid reports of a vehicle explosion just outside the border inspections plaza on the American side.

Patrol cars representing multiple local police agencies, including the Niagara Falls Police Department and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, are on the scene following the incident that witnesses told the Niagara Gazette occurred at around 11:20 a.m. Wednesday.

A captain with the Niagara Falls Police Department who was directing motorists and pedestrians near the inspections plaza at the intersection of Niagara Street and Rainbow Boulevard said he could not comment on the situation before telling a reporter that he should leave the area because it was a “dangerous situation.”

Two witnesses who were present in the area when the incident happened told the Gazette that they heard a loud noise that sounded like an explosion and saw a large cloud of smoke near the inspections station on Wednesday morning shortly before police arrived on the scene.

Ivan Vitalii, a visitor to the Falls from Ukraine, said he and a friend were at the 7-Eleven convenience store in the 400 block of Niagara Street when they observed a car exit the parking lot and travel toward the bridge. Vitalii said he and his friend moved down to the bridge area where they observed what appeared to be the same car on fire near the entrance to the bridge.

“We heard something smash,” he said. “We saw fire and big, black smoke.”

This story is developing. 

 

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