Water main break in Boston’s South End floods street, creates sinkhole

BOSTON — A water main break closed down parts of Harrison Avenue in Boston after the flood caused a sinkhole to form.

Fire department officials said the leak happened around 9:18 p.m. on Tuesday. Crews were able to turn the water main off around midnight Wednesday.

Boston Fire Chief Neal Mullane said six people were forced from their homes.

“The city has plans in place if anybody needs assistance,” said Mullane. “Call City Hall and we’ll get somebody to assist them.”

The damage was so extensive that a sinkhole formed and began to swallow a car on the corner of Harrison Ave. and Perry St. Cars in a nearby parking lot were also submerged in water.

“There’s probably 10 to 15 cars that are completely underwater, basements that are completely filled with water,” said Mullane.

Thankfully, due to the city of Boston’s advised 9 p.m. curfew, fewer people were on the roads when it all happened.

“Everything is completely submerged in the water right now, it’s just so crazy,” said Meichi Peng, owner of Meichi Peng Design Studio on Harrison Ave. “Everything’s gone.”

Peng said she was working in her studio Tuesday night when a man started tapping on her window to alert her that her business was filling up with water.

“I heard the water was running, but I thought someone just forgot to shut off the water in the bathroom, so I didn’t really pay attention and I didn’t look back,” said Peng. “The moment he tapped on my window, I look back, then I saw everything was covered in water on the floor.”

Peng scrambled to get out of her studio.

“I tried to find a way out, but I couldn’t find a way out, so the fire department had to guide me through it and then go out to the fire escape,” said Peng. “The water continued gushing in and it was too late, everything is gone.”

Mullane said it could be a while until power is restored to nearby businesses.

“Until the basements can get pumped out, they’re going to be out of power for at least 24 hours,” said Mullane.

Boston Water and Sewer crews were on scene investigating the water main break. Some residents in the area reported seeing brown water come out of their pipes because of the incident.

Officials continue to investigate the cause of the break.

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