A massive sinkhole has opened in the middle of a busy intersection in a wealthy San Francisco neighborhood, causing chaos for local residents and businesses alike.
The intersection of Fillmore and Green streets, a six-minute drive from the Golden Gate Bridge, collapsed Monday morning after a large water main nearby ruptured the night before, leaving a deep crater estimated to be about 21 feet wide and at least six feet deep. .
A second, smaller crater was also seen at the intersection as city maintenance crews were sighted.
Videos from the scene show sewage and water flowing from the main into homes and businesses in the area.
No injuries have yet been reported and city officials are currently investigating the cause of the water main break.
The 16-inch cast iron water main installed in 1949 near the intersection of Fillmore and Union streets, just a block from the sinkhole, also broke an 8-inch pipe, the Utilities Commission said public authorities of the city (SFPUC).
The surprise sinkhole is believed to be approximately 21 feet wide and at least 6 feet deep.
The sinkhole appeared overnight in the upscale neighborhood at the intersection of Fillmore and Green streets.
The sinkhole appeared Monday after a huge main block broke apart on Sunday.
The sinkhole appeared Monday night after a nearby water pipe burst the night before.
San Francisco’s aging infrastructure is of great concern to city residents.
Residents said that while their lives have been temporarily disrupted, they are more concerned that the burst water main is a sign of unsightly aging of the city’s infrastructure.
Meanwhile, the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management warned residents to avoid the area.
Residents said that while their lives have been temporarily disrupted, they are more concerned that the burst water main is a sign of unsightly aging of the city’s infrastructure.
“It feels like the town is getting old,” said Maddie Standlee, a local resident. ABC7.
“I’m in shock, we live on the street and we didn’t even know this was happening,” said Clara Bltabsky, also a local resident.
Resident Amanda Scott said she was on Lombard Street around midnight when she noticed sewage and mud flooding her street.
“The whole street that went down Steiner and Fillmore was basically a river. I don’t mean river in terms of a gentle stream – I mean a river,” she said.
“I just took my shoes off, rolled up my pants and started digging through the sewers, picking up all the debris and trying to get it all honestly on higher ground, if there was anything,” Scott said , adding that she helped clean seven drains. .
One business owner said water coming in through the front and back doors of his restaurant likely caused thousands of dollars in damage.
“It’s total chaos. The ground is encrusted and underneath is a layer of water,” Kingston Wu, managing partner of Wilder.
Residents said their lives had been massively disrupted by the sinkhole
A business owner says his restaurant suffered thousands of dollars in damage after dirty water spilled through the front and back doors of his establishment.
San Francisco’s Public Utility Commission, the agency responsible for maintaining and improving infrastructure, has admitted that the city’s pipes are not in great condition.
“San Francisco has pipes that are over a hundred years old. Some of them are made of brick. This one was made of cast iron,” explains Joseph Sweiss of the SFPUC.
The SFPUC also advised residents on what to do if their water is milky or cloudy.
“If you notice that your water is milky, cloudy and/or white, this may indicate the presence of air bubbles in the water,” the commission said.
“To determine if this is due to air in the water, fill a clear glass with water and let it sit for a few minutes.” The air bubbles should rise to the top and the cloudiness would dissipate if there was simply air in the water.
“All water contains dissolved oxygen; however, changes in water temperature and pressure lead to supersaturation or the formation of bubbles.
“Check for persistent discoloration by turning on the cold water faucet closest to the water meter and letting it run for 3 to 5 minutes to see if it disappears.”
