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Crews are still cleaning up the mess at UCLA after a 93-year-old water main burst on Tuesday afternoon, flooding the campus and even causing a 15-foot wide sinkhole on Sunset Boulevard.
Authorities were alerted about the flooding on the 10600 block of Sunset Boulevard around 3:30 p.m., and the water continued to inundate the campus until crews were able to shut down the main at about 7 p.m., according to the L.A. Times. There were about 8 to 10 million gallons of water that gushed out of the 30-foot geyser that shot up from the burst pipe.
Five of the structures were flooded, as well as the school's basketball facility Pauley Pavillion (which had recently gone through a $136 million renovation), the John Wooden Center, and two parking structures, reported the L.A. Daily News. The L.A. Fire Dept. saved five people who were trapped in their cars from the flood. People were walking through pools of water throughout campus.
There was a 15-foot wide sinkhole on Sunset Boulevard, and the road was closed between Hilgard and Veteran avenues, reported KTLA. “We will not see Sunset Boulevard opened up today,” said Jamie Moore, spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department. “The DWP’s been working all night long … trying to remove the water, but we do still have water coming through that 30-inch pipe — it’s a huge pipe.
As for the students attending the school, UCLA Chancellor Gene Block said classes would still continue today.
Here are some photos and video of the flooding and damage it caused:
Another photo showing why Sunset Blvd will not be open for commute MT @DaveMechamTime All-Nighter for DWP #UCLA pic.twitter.com/7QekMCHcts
— Jimmy Orr (@JimmyOrr) July 30, 2014
PHOTOS: Water main break sends water gushing onto Sunset Blvd, UCLA campus http://t.co/2gx6Xf3DZF pic.twitter.com/pAw6taXdTB
— NBC Los Angeles (@NBCLA) July 29, 2014
Wild photos from UCLA water main break: Students on body boards and more: http://t.co/LjIquGO50N (Mike Meadows, AP) pic.twitter.com/EcLa3OOv3T
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) July 30, 2014
UCLA's soccer/track facility. RT @ryanvmenezes Drake Stadium almost totally submerged. http://t.co/XvolhOFbRn
— Jeff Eisenberg (@JeffEisenberg) July 30, 2014
Water soaks UCLA campus as seen by @GadiNBCLA http://t.co/TR6BHiTMLk pic.twitter.com/2s2mtXir5T
— NBC Los Angeles (@NBCLA) July 30, 2014
Update 11:18 a.m.: According to City News Service, Sunset Boulevard near UCLA is not expected to be reopened until at least Friday. Crews have not been able to begin repairing the area because they are still working on completely stopping the valves from leaking water.
