Broken water main causes major flooding in North Park

SAN DIEGO (KUSI) – A 24-inch water main ruptured in the North Park neighborhood Thursday, flooding streets and prompting the closure of a North Park continuation high school as city utility crews worked to fix the leak. Footage of the leak from the helicopter can be seen below.

The break was reported shortly after 7:05 a.m. at the intersection of Idaho Street and Polk Avenue, located next to North Park Community Park, city spokesman Arian Collins said.

No residents in the area lost water service due to the break because the pipe is a transmission line that is not connected to any water meters, Collins said, but he said some residents may experience low water pressure.

There was no immediate estimate on when repairs would be completed.

As of 9:15 a.m., the flow of water had been stopped, and the cause of the leak was still under investigation.

Footage from the scene showed water flowing down Oregon, Utah and Idaho streets.

San Diego Gas & Electric crews shut off power to four apartment complexes near Idaho Street as a safety precaution at the request of the San Diego Fire-Rescue department, SDG&E spokesman Joe Britton said.

As of 10:05 a.m., around 80 customers were without power, Britton said.

Students at ALBA Community Day School, located at the corner of Oregon Street and Lincoln Avenue, were evacuated from campus and the school was closed for the day, said Jennifer Rodriguez, a spokeswoman for San Diego Unified School District.

San Diego police closed eastbound Lincoln Avenue at Oregon Street, southbound and northbound Oregon Street at Lincoln, westbound Lincoln at Idaho Street, westbound Polk Avenue at Utah Street, southbound Utah Street at Polk and the right lane of westbound University at Arizona Street, public-affairs Officer Billy Hernandez said.

As of 9:35 a.m., the water was receding and roads were being reopened, Hernandez said.