RECORD SNOWS IN EASTERN CANADA CLOSE SCHOOLS, COLLAPSE ROOFS

XINHUA:

More than 150 schools are closed Friday in Canada's eastern city of Montreal over fears that snow-covered roofs may collapse, reports reaching here said.

Thousands of students are getting the unexpected break ordered by the city's biggest school board, which said it does not take any chances with the safety of students.

The schools will remain closed at least until Monday, when the rooftop snow is expected to be cleared, Canadian Press said.

Meanwhile, students at an elementary school in western Quebec were sent home early Friday morning over concerns about heavy snow on the roof.

The whole province of Quebec have been worried about rooftop snow after three women were killed when a roof collapsed at a specialty food center in a small town north of Montreal Wednesday.

The province has had near-record snowfall this winter, including more than 50 centimeters over last weekend, according to forecasters. Several roof collapses have occurred as a result of accumulated snow during the season.

The amount of snowfall in nearby Ontario province is also nearing historical records. A family in Ottawa had to flee their house in a panic early Monday morning when the roof started to collapse under all the snow that fell over last weekend.

HAS AL GORE STFU YET!?