CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (WHDH) — Harvard University’s boathouse is now sinking into the Charles River.

“The Harvard Sailing Center, located on the Cambridge side of the Charles River near the Longfellow Bridge, has been significantly compromised due to what currently appears to be a failure of the building’s flotation device,” said Harvard University Athletics Director Bob Scalise in a statement.

The boathouse sunk about 5 feet into the river and is sinking further by the hour. Members of Harvard’s sailing team spent Thursday afternoon moving boats docked outside the boathouse. More boats are stored inside.

Officials said the building was built in 1971 and the flotation system just happened to give out Thursday morning.

The area around the center is said to be secure and there were no occupants in the boathouse when it started sinking.

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