
BY TODD MAISEL
Water fl ooded the streets
for hours in Sunset Park on
Sunday, when a water main
break caused a 30-foot wide
crater to open, creating rivers
running throughout adjoining
roadways.
The water main erupted
shortly after 5:30 am on Nov.
24 at the northwest corner of
Fifth Avenue and 44th Street
in Sunset Park, shooting rocks,
sidewalk concrete and asphalt
into the air and sending trash
cans rolling down the street.
At times, the water was shooting
up to fi ve feet high.
Luis Ramos, a 16-year-old
who lives near the site, said
the street shook before the water
suddenly spouted into the
air, waking him and his family
up.
“I couldn’t believe what I
saw when I came out this morning
and the water was shooting
into the air,” Ramos said.
“I just was hoping nobody’s
home was getting fl ooded.”
Some vehicles were in two
feet of water, forcing NYPD
tow trucks to come and remove
COURIER L 16 IFE, NOV. 29-DEC. 5, 2019
them.
The fl ooding forced police
to close parts of Third, Fourth,
and Fifth Avenues from 43rd
and 46th Streets, leading to
traffi c congestion throughout
the community. Police offi
cials were concerned that a
corner section of Sunset Park
Playground might be undermined
and collapse, so they
kept people away as well.
Department of Environmental
Protection offi cials
were on the scene trying to
shut down the water at multiple
valves, but one offi cial said
they had to close the valves
slowly to avoid additional main
breaks resulting from a sudden
change in pressure. Some
of the valves were located up to
10 blocks away.
“DEP crews are working
at the scene to shut off the water
so repairs can be made,”
a spokesman for the agency
said.
Also at the scene were National
A massive water man break opened up at 30 foot crater on Fifth Avenue
and 44th Street. Photos by Todd Maisel
Grid and Con Edison
crews; both utilities were concerned
that their lines may
be impacted by the water that
fl ooded the streets throughout
the morning.
The damage to the street
was extensive, and police offi
cials cautioned drivers to
stay away from the area into
well Monday’s morning rush
hour.
Flooding at Sunset
Water main break gushes for hours in Sunset Park on Sunday
The watermain break fl ooded streets for blocks around on Sunday.