A century-old water main burst beneath West Hollywood early this morning, sending hundreds of thousands of gallons of water surging through streets near the Sunset Strip and triggering widespread disruption. The ruptured 36-inch high-pressure pipeline, originally installed in 1916, caused severe flooding that forced authorities to close sections of Sunset Boulevard and Santa Monica Boulevard as emergency crews responded.
The powerful rush of water flooded a parking structure, swept vehicles into one another, and created a large sinkhole, leaving significant damage across the area. Residents and commuters were advised to avoid the affected streets while crews assessed the situation.
Firefighters from the Los Angeles County Fire Department joined utility workers in a coordinated response, spending several hours gradually shutting down pressure valves to control the flow and prevent further damage to the water distribution system. Officials are continuing to investigate the cause of the rupture, while repair efforts remain underway and traffic disruptions are expected to continue until the damaged pipeline is secured.
