A massive 36-inch water main ruptured early Thursday morning, flooding streets, submerging buses, and trapping cars in West Hollywood.
Imagine walking down a familiar street when the ground beneath you suddenly vanishes. That nightmare became real for two people during a massive morning flood in West Hollywood.
What Happened
A giant 36-inch water pipe burst at about 3 a.m. on Thursday near Palm Avenue and Harratt Street. The rushing water tore through the Sunset Strip, carving out a sinkhole on the sidewalk. Two people fell into the hole, but they did not suffer serious injuries.
Water rushed down the hills toward Santa Monica Boulevard. It flooded underground parking garages and left parked cars swimming in feet of water.
The flood also hit a local Metro bus yard, leaving several buses partially underwater. Workers spent four hours slowly shutting down the high-pressure line to stop the flow.
Fact Box
- 1916: The year the ruptured pipe was first put into the ground.
- 36 inches: The size of the main water line that broke.
- 3 a.m.: The time the water main ruptured on Thursday.
- 2 people: The number of people who fell into the sudden sinkhole.
- 10 bus lines: The number of transit routes delayed or detoured by the flood.
Why It Matters
Our cities rely on very old underground systems that we rarely think about until they fail. This pipe was 108 years old, showing how weak our daily lives are when old systems break.
A single broken pipe can shut down major roads, damage homes, and disrupt transit for thousands of commuters instantly.
What Happens Next
Crews must pump out the standing water before they can even look at the broken pipe. Repairing the pipe and fixing the collapsed roads will take time, and drivers should avoid the area.
City workers will stay on the scene to help local residents and business owners file claims for water damage.
What We Still Don't Know
- What exactly caused a pipe that survived for over a century to suddenly burst on Thursday?
- How much money in damage did the flooding cause to local buildings and vehicles?
- How long will it take for crews to fully repair the road and reopen the Sunset Strip?
Transparency notes
Published: Jul 16, 2026. No major post-publication update has been logged.
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Sources
External source links were not provided in this article body. Our editors reference publicly available materials and update stories as new verified information arrives.