A massive water main break in West Hollywood early Thursday morning sent a devastating flood through streets, damaging businesses, homes, and vehicles. Surveillance footage captured the moment a wall of water erupted and barreled downhill.
The floodwaters inundated the area for nearly four hours before the flow was shut off. The popular Dialog Cafe reported sustained significant damage, with aftermath photos showing the establishment covered in mud and debris. The cafe stated in an Instagram post that its focus is on cleanup and assessing the damage.
One West Hollywood resident described the horrifying experience of waking up to the floodwaters entering his ground-level home. He and his partner were unable to protect their belongings as several inches of water covered their apartment. Another resident noted that sub-garages and vehicles sustained significant damage, and some residential units were impacted.
Officials have indicated that the pipes involved in the incident are over 100 years old. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass commented at the scene, highlighting the challenges posed by aging infrastructure. West Hollywood Mayor John Heilman confirmed that no residents were injured but described the flooding as "significant." City officials were going door-to-door to check on residents and buildings impacted by the deluge.
Crews from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power worked through the night into Friday to repair the water line, with yellow tape surrounding the resulting sinkhole on Sunset Boulevard.