Nature shows its own colors when humans try to go overboard with its resources. The same happened in San Francisco when a massive sinkhole opened near Fillmore and Green streets on a Monday morning following a water main break.
It also affected traffic and Muni lines and inundated nearby dwellings with a surge of water in the middle of a bustling intersection.
Following the incident, videos from the incident soon began to circulate. The videos shared on social media showed water and debris gushing into the street where the break had occurred just before midnight on Sunday in the city’s trendy Cow Hollow neighborhood. While the official reason is yet to be revealed, it is being said that a link to a water main break originated from a 74-year-old pipe.
How Did The Sinkhole Open In San Francisco?
A water main break, which was installed in 1949, broke and created a large sinkhole to open up in a San Francisco intersection. It is currently the center of attention, appearing unexpectedly at the intersection of Fillmore and Green Streets, which is a mere six-minute drive away from the iconic Golden Gate Bridge.
The incident has resulted in flooding that affected several homes and businesses in the vicinity as it also wreaked havoc on the traffic, with Fillmore Street seeing closures between Green and Union Streets.
According to the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), PG&E was on the scene attempting to isolate a gas main inside the work area.
As their work was completed, crews were expected to resume work on the water mains, said the SFPUC. They also responded to the location and worked through the night to stabilize and repair the 16-inch cast-iron water main, which is said to have been installed in 1949.
How Huge Is The Sinkhole?
While the SFPUC is actively working on repairing the water main break, filling the sinkhole, and assisting affected residents and businesses, it is said that the sinkhole measures approximately 20 feet wide and 10 feet deep. However, the disruption caused by the sinkhole in the area is expected to last for at least a week.
What Has The Sinkhole Affected In San Francisco?
The work in the nearby area was halted at the moment the sinkhole opened up in between the streets. It has also resulted in flooding that affected several homes in the nearby area and businesses in the vicinity. Along with that, it has caused significant traffic disruptions, with Fillmore Street seeing closures between Green and Union Streets.
With all that, the crews are working to restore the water service as soon as possible. They are still in the area cleaning up debris in the streets as they prepare to turn their attention to the massive sinkhole.
It is yet to be known how much more of Fillmore Street has been undermined by the mudflow, but with SFPUC working rigorously, things might get back to normal.
Let us know in the comments what you feel about the massive sinkhole in San Fransisco.
