A major water main break that flooded several blocks in West Hollywood has been traced to a Los Angeles Department of Water and Power pipeline. LADWP crews are working to slowly shut down underground valves in an effort to stop the flow while preventing additional damage to the city’s high-pressure water system. The rupture occurred around 3 a.m., sending water into an apartment complex before spreading to nearby homes, multiple streets, and a parking garage, where several vehicles became submerged. An L.A. Metro bus yard was also inundated by the flooding. Emergency crews are assessing the extent of the damage as cleanup efforts continue. Officials say shutting off the water cannot be done quickly because the system is highly pressurized, requiring valves to be closed gradually to avoid creating additional breaks elsewhere in the network. Authorities have not said how long repairs and the shutdown process are expected to take.
