Broken water main floods Hunting Park block, road caves in

HUNTING PARK (WPVI) -- Philadelphia Water Department crews are assessing the damage caused by a broken 48-inch water main in Hunting Park.

The break occurred around 8 p.m. Saturday on Hunting Park Avenue near Westmoreland Street.

Philadelphia Water Department spokesperson John DiGiulio tells Action News approximately 15 million gallons of water spilled onto the streets and into properties before crews could arrive and shut off the main around 9:45 p.m.

Police blocked off part of the road due to the high water, but not before a car became partially submerged.

According to the water department, water pressure was restored around 10 p.m.

The incident affected some area businesses during their busiest time of the weekend.

"We lost some customers. They kept calling us so we said 'I'm sorry we're closed,' " said Nakam Baloghlano of Mimmo's Pizza. "They asked why, and we said because of no water."

PWD crews worked Sunday to assess the damage caused by the break.

"Once our cleanup efforts are done on Hunting Park, we'll begin assessing the damage to the water main and working to excavate to get a visual on it," DiGiulio said.

The break caused Hunting Park Avenue to be closed between 29th Street and Fox Street overnight and into Sunday.

DiGiulio told Action News the street was re-opened Sunday around 4 p.m.

A parking lot buckled and crumbled apart; the metal fence and barriers surrounding the lot soon followed.

The break occurred blocks away from where a 48-inch water main broke at a shopping plaza at Fox Street and Roberts Avenue back in June.

During that break, the fire department evacuated people from affected businesses, which included Planet Fitness, Hair Buzz, Dollar General, ShopRite and Ross.

Photos from the scene showed Philadelphia firefighters rescuing several people.

Back in January 2014, another main ruptured in the area, damaging multiple stores. That break took four months to repair.