About 150,000 homes are under a boil-water advisory and multiple roads are closed after a massive water main break in Montreal's Ville-Marie borough sent water spewing several metres into the air, flooding streets and basements.

About 150,000 homes are under a boil-water advisory and multiple roads were closed after a massive water main break Friday morning in Montreal’s Ville-Marie borough sent water spewing several metres into the air, flooding streets and basements.

Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante told reporters that it would likely take hours to repair the pipe, which she described as “enormous” at around a metre wide.

The city has put a boil-water advisory in place for three boroughs: Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, Riviere-des-Prairies–Pointe-aux-Trembles and the City of Montreal-East. A map of affected residences is available here.