WeHo water main break creates sinkhole and array of street closures. Here's what to know

Sammy Marvin is a summer 2026 LAist intern and a junior at Loyola Marymount University.

Published Jul 16, 2026 11:46 AM

An aerial view of a street intersection: A portion of the street has caved in, exposing a sink hole swirling with muddy waters.

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A WeHo water main break flood a neighborhood. What's next?

It's time for clean-up — and damage claims. LAist's Sammy Marvin has some tips.

A water main break near Palm Avenue and Harratt Street sent waters flooding through West Hollywood early Thursday, causing a massive sink hole.

Roads have been closed off and residents warned to stay out of the area, with dramatic footage posted online of water rushing down streets and cars slamming into each other:

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Because of the highly pressurized water system, emergency crews said Thursday they must work slowly and carefully to avoid causing more damage. Several roads were closed and Metro system buses detoured — see details below.

A leak from an over 100-year-old trunk line caused the rupture, authorities said. The line has been shut down, as well as two large valves to the east and west. Anselmo Collins, chief operating officer of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, assured residents that drinking water is not affected and remains safe to drink.

“We are also coordinating on the ground with law enforcement and will be working with traffic control as we make progress and assess and begin repairs,” wrote LADWP in a statement.

What about damages?

Residents are encouraged to take pictures of any damage from the flooding in case a claim needs to be filed later, and keep any receipts or other documentation.

Here's what we learned about this process, starting with the most important tip — act as soon as possible:

File with LADWP: Residents should visit the LADWP claims department to file paperwork over any damaged property. To get started, call the department at (213) 367-4600 or send an email to claims@ladwp.com.
Contact your insurance: Make the call asap. Standard property insurance might cover the damage, but it depends on where your house is in relation to the water main break.
What about your car? When it comes to vehicle damage, you could be covered depending upon where your vehicle was located in relation to the water main break. Make the call immediately to find out.
Consult legal representatives if necessary: The claims process can be tedious. An attorney who specializes in property damage might be your bet option if the damage is extensive.

What you need to know about affected areas:

Avoid the area if at all possible. But if you need to venture in, here’s what you need to know:

Road Closures:

Eastbound Sunset Boulevard is closed between Larrabee Street and Sherbourne Drive.
Eastbound Holloway Drive is closed between Sunset Boulevard and Westmount Drive.
Eastbound Santa Monica Boulevard is closed between San Vicente Boulevard and Hancock Drive.

The following bus routes have been delayed or detoured.