11:00 PM: ABC7 broadcast is reporting that the water has just been shut off, after spewing from 8:30 PM to nearly 11 PM while city officials struggled to figure out which valve to shut off. Streets in the area are still closed, but the on ramp to 101 has been reopened.
9:52 PM (BCN): Authorities are responding to a water main break that is flooding streets near an on-ramp to northbound U.S. Highway 101 in San Francisco’s South of Market District tonight, a fire lieutenant said.
The water main break was reported at about 8:30 p.m. and is creating a sinkhole that is about 10 feet wide in front of 290 Division St., San Francisco fire Lt. Ken Smith said.
The sinkhole is continuing to spread, and the water main break has caused flooding that spread from near Division and Henry Adams streets to Eighth and Brannan streets, Smith said.
“We’ve got a river of water running down the street,” he said.
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission spokesman Tony Winnicker said at 9:30 p.m. that crews were at the scene and were trying to isolate the water main, shut it down, and begin repairs.
There is no estimate for when repairs will be finished, Winnicker said.
The flooding has damaged buildings in the area, according to Smith, who said he did not yet know how many buildings were affected. Power was also out for many buildings in the area, he said.
The California Highway Patrol has shut down the 10th Street on-ramp to northbound Highway 101 because “the water level is pretty high,” CHP Officer Ralph Caggiano said.
9:52 PM: No word yet from the SF PUC, but we’re getting reports that “water is shooting out like a geyser” and that “four blocks are under water.” What have you heard? Let us know.
9:05 PM: AlertSF is reporting that there’s a “Large water main break @ 575-10th St @ Bryant;Bryant from 9th-Duboce closed;bldgs flooded;onramp to 101 flooded;all City agencies responding.” We’re trying to get more details (we left a message with PUC spokesperson Tony Winnicker, who doesn’t start his new gig as head of comms for Gavin until next year), and will update when we have them.
