A water main break on Sunset Boulevard near the University of California, Los Angeles resulted in extensive flooding on parts of the school’s campus Tuesday.
“It’s like a bomb went off,” a KABC-TV anchor said, describing the images from the scene of the water main break.
The rupture happened around 3:30 p.m. Footage from the scene showed water gushing from the pipe, forcing the surrounding asphalt to collapse. Roughly four hours later, the water flow was eventually shut off. Officials estimate millions of gallons had ultimately poured into the surrounding area.
Students were told to avoid the affected locations. UCLA said the school is assessing the damage.
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power said the damaged pipe was a 30-inch, 90-year-old riveted steel pipe delivering water from the Upper Stone Canyon Reservoir.
Last update at 11:50 p.m. ET.
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#westwood flooding @UCLA campus, people trapped in cars, Sunset Blvd. closed. force of water now near Pauley Pavilion pic.twitter.com/UZGlFtkQOY
— Tara Wallis (@tarawallis)July 29, 2014
Wow. UCLA’s Drake Stadium now flooding. Live video: http://t.co/YFi26DGMLG pic.twitter.com/EmFsN4iEU3
— Jon Passantino (@passantino) July 29, 2014
.@KTLA photographer now on Sunset Blvd near #watermain break. #ucla #flooding #PHOTO: pic.twitter.com/RLMDbqK7mq
— Tara Wallis (@tarawallis) July 29, 2014
This is what UCLA currently looks like due to a water main break near campus... pic.twitter.com/mVtntHD9AY
— NBC Sports Network (@NBCSN) July 30, 2014
Here's another photo -- up-close -- of Pauley Pavilion floor. Can't imagine it could be salvaged. pic.twitter.com/v6UhVTJUeF
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) July 30, 2014
Only the tops of cars visible in the UCLA parking garage http://t.co/8ddcJ8QgzV pic.twitter.com/QuO2VIAjrl
— Jon Passantino (@passantino) July 30, 2014
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