Ruptured Water Main Creates Mudslide in South San Francisco

The break sent a torrent of water and mud flowing down local streets.

Officials say the flow of water has stopped and people are back in their homes after a break in a water main caused quite a mess in a South San Francisco neighborhood.

A spokesman for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission says water started gushing out of a 12-inch line pipe when it broke around 9:45 a.m. Friday.

The 12-inch water main was connected to a larger 60-inch line on Elm Street between Park Way and Tamarack Way

Besides sending a geyser of water into the air, the break also sent a torrent of water and mud flowing down local streets.

SFPUC spokesman Charles Sheehan says crews were able to shut off the flow of water around 1 p.m. Friday.

Sheehan says the residents of six homes were forced to evacuate, but they have been allowed to return home.

Officials haven't been able to determine what caused the break, or provide a cost estimate of the damage, but Sheehan says some cars were flooded.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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