Crews work to repair water main break that caused street flooding in Allentown, Pa.

Christie Ileto Image
Tuesday, December 29, 2020
Crews work to fix large watermain break in Allentown, Pa.
Water gushed down an Allentown street this weekend, turning it into a river. On Monday, authorities worked to fix the large main that burst wide open.

ALLENTOWN, Pennsylvania (WPVI) -- Water gushed down an Allentown street this weekend, turning it into a river, after a 36-inch water main broke.

On Monday, authorities worked to fix the large main that burst wide open.

Crews pumped the final pools of water and began making repairs to the cast-iron pipe that ruptured 24 hours earlier on Devonshire Road at 12th Street.

The water main break created a massive sinkhole.

Several homeowners are worried about the status of their homes.

"I didn't know how big it was until I came out here. This is deep," said resident Stephen Engler.

Engler said there are multiple sinkholes on his property that workers on-site estimated at least six feet deep.

The Englers' home is one of a handful directly impacted.

The family now worries if it's only a matter of time before destruction inches closer to their front door.

"I'm very worried," said Engler. "They won't let me take anything out of there. So all I can do is wait and see what happens."

City inspectors have deemed three homes in the vicinity unsafe due to the flooding.

Meanwhile, 3,600 customers are under a boil water advisory until repairs are complete.

The cause of the ruptured pipe is still not known.