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A massive water main break wreaked havoc on several New Jersey towns, leaving tens of thousands of residents – and a local trauma hospital – without running water, and trigged at least one car-swallowing sinkhole.
Water gushed for hours from the 72-inch, 140-year-old pipe that broke in Branch Brook Park on the border of Newark and neighboring Belleville around 8 a.m. on Tuesday.
At one point during the day, a sinkhole opened swallowing an entire vehicle. Only a tire could be sticking out from the water. The driver told NBC that she saw water bubbling up in front of her on the street and made a quick escape from her car. She was not injured.
The water emergency forced the City of Newark to cancel summer school and prompted some area hospitals to divert patients as community residents and businesses were urged to conserve water.
Boil water advisories are in effect until further notice as a precaution for Newark and Belleville residents. The situation will be re-evaluated on Wednesday morning.
A massive water main break wreaked havoc on several New Jersey towns, leaving thousands of residents without running water, and trigged at least one car-swallowing sinkhole (pictured)
The water main break came amid the most recent heat wave that had already prompted a code red declaration from Newark – which had opened emergency shelters
Free cases of bottled water were distributed late into Tuesday evening in Belleville with a limit of one case per family limit, and proof of Belleville residency
Belleville Mayor Michael Melham posts video of a sinkhole that opened following the water main break, swallowing an entire vehicle. Only a tire could be sticking out from the water
About 100,000 people were impacted in Newark alone, according to Kareem Adeem, Director of the Newark Department of Water and Sewer Utilities.
‘Most of the infrastructure in the Northeast include Newark. Newark is the third-oldest major city in the country, might have infrastructure going back before Abe Lincoln was president,’ Adeem said.
Newark, along with the nearby town Belleville, were without water, or were limited, on Tuesday, officials said, and the boil water advisory has been in effect for both communities.
Video posted to Facebook by Belleville’s Mayor Michael Melham shows water gushing from the water main break as a sinkhole swallows a vehicle.
Anthony Iacono, Belleville’s township manager told Gothamist: ‘It literally absorbed the entire vehicle.’
Video posted to Facebook by Belleville’s Mayor Michael Melham shows water gushing from the water main break as a sinkhole swallows a vehicle
Several area hospitals were forced to divert patients and officials suggesting residents refrain from coming to the hospital for non-emergency issues.
University Hospital, Newark’s biggest hospital and the only Level 1 Trauma Center in the region, implemented emergency water conservation and activated its emergency command center. Visitors were limited and all elective procedures were canceled.
‘Until normal water operations resume, the community should refrain from coming to the hospital for non-emergency issues,’ hospital officials said. ‘University Hospital is always here to serve the healthcare needs of the community, and we appreciate everyone’s patience during this temporary water emergency.’
Free cases of bottled water were distributed late into Tuesday evening in Belleville with a limit of one case per family limit, and proof of Belleville residency.
Newark city workers handed out more than 7,000 cases to residents, even going door to door in the stifling heat, CBS News reported.
Belleville Mayor Michael Melham posts videos of vehicles lining up to receive cases of water following a water main break with the caption: Our DPW stepping up, as always during a crisis!
Newark officials reported that there appear to have been two breaks with the primary one being in Branch Brook Park on Mill Street and a secondary break on Joralemon Street, both in Belleville, according to NBC4.
Utility officials identified six problematic valves, and all were closed by early afternoon, the outlet reported.
The water main break came amid the most recent heat wave that had already prompted a code red declaration from Newark – which had opened emergency shelters to provide overnight shelter to residents.