Massive Sinkhole Nearly Swallows Home In Pennsylvania
CHELTENHAM Twp., Pa. (CBS) -- A massive sinkhole opened up in a Cheltenham Township neighborhood and crews are now out to repair a water main that burst morning.
The sinkhole opened up in front of two homes on Brooke Road in Cheltenham, extending into the street, so a stretch of sidewalk is in the hole.
In front of the house to the right, half of the front lawn collapsed into the ground.
The house to the left, most of the driveway was swallowed into the earth with a big tree that looks like it's holding up the rear of a white pickup truck that didn't fully fall in. The front tires of the truck are grasping the pavement that's left above ground.
Officials say that concrete was poured into the hole to fill the two deepest areas of the sinkhole on Wednesday afternoon. That was done to stabilize the hole so remaining work could begin.
Aqua Pennsylvania says 60 to 65 people were without water water after a six-inch water main broke. Around 3:00 p.m., eight customers had their water restored around 3:00 p.m. Aqua Pennsylvania said they expect remaining customers to get their water back between 6:00 p.m., and 7:00 p.m.
"Once we begin to pump concrete in the hole we will begin to see how deep, and we'll stabilize the hole," said Marc Lucca, president of Aqua Pennsylvania.
Once water is restored, Aqua Pennsylvania says there will be a Boil Water Advisory in effect.
This means customers must they must boil their water or use bottled water for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes and food preparation until further notice.
Aqua expects to lift the boil water advisory on January 28, but residents should continue boiling their water until they hear directly from Aqua that the boil water advisory has been lifted.
Neighbors near the sinkhole could not believe what happened, saying it sounded like an explosion.
"Oh my God, It's so scary. Very frightening," Cindy Sharp said.
"When I turned the corner, because my house is around the corner, I could hear the rushing water," says Kurt.
There is no information that there were issues before this morning.l.