Miller Drive Water Main Break Floods Homes, Fields
SW MIAMI-DADE (CBS4) - Crews are continuing their work to repair a water main break in southwest Miami-Dade that flooded homes and put animals at risk.
The large main burst late Tuesday afternoon in the area of Miller Drive and SW 120th Avenue, sending thousands of gallons of water into the surrounding streets and fields.
A school bus caught in the torrent of water stalled, trapping three kids and the driver inside.
"I saw the bus and the next thing I saw was the gushing of water coming out," said Sergio Garcia.
Garcia was worried about the three students on board this bus, when he saw a sinkhole open up around it. The front tires of the bus became stuck as the water shot out of the main like a geyser.
"The bus driver came out and everything seemed like they were okay," said Garcia.
Rene Garcia of Rene's Landscaping on SW 125th avenue, said, "This is the first time I've ever seen this. I don't really know what to do."
Garcia had 8 horses and a donkey on his land, and from Chopper 4, the animals could be seen standing in the new flood, apparently in good condition.
It took Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department workers about an hour to shut off the valves to stop the torrential flow. While crews pump out the water, people who live nearby are cleaning up their swampy homes.
Slideshow: Water Main Break Traps Bus In Sinkhole
Sarah Oramas couldn't believe how fast the water rose.
"By the time we actually found out what was happening and saw the water coming in we tried to pick up everything and get it off the floor onto beds, tables anything....I saw it coming up the steps, on the steps of my house, and I saw it at the last step and that's right when we left," said Oramas.
Oramas worried about the ponies her family boards on their 5-acre property.
"They were basically swimming but we got them," she said.
Though the animals survived, some farmers, like Sergio Garcia fear their crops may not.
He's been working for 2 years to open a farmer's market.
"We were hoping to open up this weekend, but I don't know about now," he said.
