A century-old water pipe burst early Thursday in West Hollywood, California, triggering significant flooding and traffic disruptions on major roads.
The rupture of a 36-inch riveted steel pipe created a sinkhole and cracked pavement. Images showed local metro buses partially submerged in muddy water.
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Mayor John Heilman confirmed no injuries. “All of our residents to our knowledge are safe,” he said during a press conference.
“We know these road closures and traffic impacts are disruptive, and we appreciate everyone’s patience as crews work to stabilize the area, assess the damage, and begin repairs,” he added.
Officials are still investigating the cause of the rupture, as reported by The Guardian.
David Hanson, interim general manager for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), assured residents that clean drinking water remains available.
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Anselmo Collins, LADWP's chief operating officer, noted that the agency typically replaces about 45 miles of pipes annually.
“Unfortunately, sometimes there may be parts of the pipeline where you end up with a weak spot and it reveals itself when you have these types of leaks,” he said.
Collins explained that water pressure tends to surge at night, often leading to such breaks. “Everybody’s asleep.
So consequently normally that’s when you see a water main break take place,” he stated.
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While Collins did not provide a specific timeline for repairs, officials are working to shut smaller valves to assess the situation.
