2 Homes Heavily Damaged In 8-Foot Hollywood Hills Mudslide
LOS ANGELES (CBS/AP) — Two homes were heavily damaged after a 63-year-old old pipe burst in the Hollywood Hills, sending a deluge of mud sliding into the homes.
The break happened at about 1:30 a.m. Saturday.
Erik Scott with the Los Angeles Fire Department says the water main break triggered about an eight-foot mudslide. Firefighters responded and helped shut down a nearby road.
Officials are assessing the structural integrity of each of the damaged homes.
Most of the damage occurred in the 8500 block of Appian Way.
CBS2's Greg Mills said at least two homes were damaged heavily.
Homeowners asked why it took them so long to get help.
One woman found out it could be as long as a year before she is able to move back into her home.
"It's my girlfriend's house," said a man who only wanted to be identified as Greg. "I was just really worried. I said, this house could cave in. This could be a much bigger problem."
In the back of the house, "I think the mud is probably six feet deep," Greg said.
Officials blamed the break on an aging cast iron pipe, one that was installed in 1952.
About 40 residents have also been left with no water service. DWP said they expected water service to be restored in the area around midnight Saturday. (Service was actually restored by about 9:30 p.m., officials said.)
Authorities said it might be Monday or Tuesday before the road can be reopened.
Residents told Mills they saw water Friday night -- first trickling and then cascading. They said they called DWP to no avail.
"I cannot confirm or deny that," said John Benane of DWP, "that will be a matter of our investigation."
Several residents told Mills they called DWP again and they only came out after residents said the situation was frantic.
By Saturday evening, residents were still expressing their frustrations over the mud and the muck.
"It's crazy," Pitof Kumar said surveying the damage from his home.
Residents told her they worry about more pipes bursting or more rain falling.
The LADWP recently proposed raising rates to pay for new pipes, but the higher rates are still awaiting a vote from the City Council.
No injuries were reported.
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