A mysterious, intermittent loud noise that appears to be emanating from a construction site late at night in Esquimalt has nearby residents concerned.
“It sounds like a cross between the explosion of a firework and a car slamming into something,” said Patricia Rose, who lives in a duplex next door to 899 Esquimalt Rd., the site of a partially built 10-storey residential building. “Like a combined car-crash-firework bang.”
The loud noises have been going on for almost a month and have occurred about twice a week, she said. “You feel it in the building. It wakes you up.”
Rose said that no one has explained to her where these noises are coming from. “We’re a little concerned structurally because we live right beside it.”
The noise has become the subject of intense online speculation.
The latest reported incident happened on Sunday, with Victoria police and Esquimalt firefighters both going to the construction site following a report of a suspicious noise.
Const. Terri Healy said officers who patrolled the area didn’t see or hear anything out of the ordinary.
Esquimalt Fire Chief Matt Furlot said firefighters made a full sweep of the building.
“There’s no concerns with the building or the construction,” Furlot said. “It seems like these are nuisance calls that we’re getting on the site.”
Police are investigating the source of the noise, he said. “It’s happening after hours and there seems to be a pattern.”
Rose did not sound surprised when she learned that police are investigating. “Maybe someone does have a grump on with Lexi.”
West Vancouver-based Lexi Development Group, which is constructing the building, was the subject to an unusual hoax last month.
Flyers posted in Esquimalt and Victoria asked people to register for a new medical clinic operated by Lexi Developers, the township and a third-party group via the Esquimalt council email address.
In a single weekend, Esquimalt received over 140 emails asking about a non-existent health-clinic partnership.
In an email, Lexi Development Group managing director Babak Nikbakhtan said that the company has contacted law enforcement as well as Esquimalt regarding the noise.
“We are the same as everybody else on this matter and have no idea where these noises are coming from,” Nikbakhtan said. “It appears some nights the noise is coming from different areas of the town.”
Colin MacLock, who lives a few doors down from the build site on Wollaston Street, offered an explanation on what’s happening.
“It’s kids with bear bangers,” he said. “One fella who lives not very far from the place has seen kids running away after a bang.”
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