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Canadian rapper Drake shared footage of his waterlogged Toronto mansion on social media as the city grappled with severe flooding from a record-breaking rainstorm. The video, posted on Instagram, showed murky brown water surging through what appeared to be a luxurious room in his home, known as "the Embassy."
The torrential downpour that hit Toronto on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, dumped more rain in a four-hour period than the city's average rainfall for the entire month of July. Toronto's Pearson International Airport recorded 97 millimeters (3.82 inches) of precipitation, making it the fifth wettest day ever recorded at that location.
The deluge caused widespread chaos across Canada's largest city, submerging streets, shutting down highways and subway stations, and leaving tens of thousands without power. Toronto Fire Services reported nearly 1,700 calls for assistance, including over 50 elevator rescues and more than 20 people needing rescue from vehicles and buildings.
Drake's mansion, located in the upscale Bridle Path neighborhood, was not spared from the flooding. The rapper humorously captioned his video, "This better be Espresso Martini," as he waded through several inches of water in what appeared to be a walk-in closet or dressing area.
The 50,000-square-foot estate, previously featured in Architectural Digest, was designed to be a monument of "overwhelming high luxury" that would "stand firm for 100 years," according to Drake. Ironically, the home's limestone construction and Art Deco-inspired interiors, meant to convey timeless elegance, now face the challenges of climate-induced extreme weather.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow emphasized the urgent need to address climate change, stating that such extreme weather events are likely to become more frequent. The city's aging infrastructure exacerbates its vulnerability to flooding, highlighting the pressing need for updates and improvements.
This summer has seen record-setting storms wreak havoc across North America and the Caribbean. Hurricane Beryl, the earliest Category 5 hurricane ever observed in the Atlantic, caused extensive damage and loss of life in multiple countries before reaching the southern United States.
