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

Tuesday, December 29, 2020
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.
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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.
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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.
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