Burst water main tears vast sinkhole in Liverpool street sparking flooding and evacuation of locals 

Pool on the Hill: Burst water main tears vast sinkhole in Liverpool street sparking flooding and evacuation of locals

  • Fire crews were called to 15ft by 20ft chasm in Green Lane, Old Swan last night
  • Three fire engines were in attendance as a number of homes were evacuated
  • Images on social media overnight showed the city’s streets gushing with water 

Homes have been evacuated in Liverpool after a ruptured watermain caused a huge sinkhole to open up in the city centre. 

Fire crews were called to the 15ft by 20ft chasm in Green Lane, Old Swan, about 10.30pm on Friday, with the service saying three fire engines were in attendance.

Images on social media showed the streets gushing with water, at the same time that torrential downpours hit many areas of the country.

Today, utilities workers have been at the scene to try and get to the root of the problem. 

Homes have been evacuated in Liverpool after a ruptured watermain caused a huge sinkhole to open up in the city centre

Fire crews were called to the 15ft by 20ft chasm in Green Lane, Old Swan, about 10.30pm on Friday, with the service saying three fire engines were in attendance

Fire crews were called to the 15ft by 20ft chasm in Green Lane, Old Swan, about 10.30pm on Friday, with the service saying three fire engines were in attendance

Homeowners in Liverpool woke up to widespread flooding this morning, with a ruptured water main suspected to have caused a sinkhole in the city

Homeowners in Liverpool woke up to widespread flooding this morning, with a ruptured water main suspected to have caused a sinkhole in the city

Homeowners in Liverpool woke up to widespread flooding this morning (left and right), with a ruptured water main suspected to have caused a sinkhole in the city

Fire crews were called to the 15ft by 20ft sinkhole in Green Lane, Old Swan, about 10.30pm on Friday, with the service saying three fire engines were in attendance

Fire crews were called to the 15ft by 20ft sinkhole in Green Lane, Old Swan, about 10.30pm on Friday, with the service saying three fire engines were in attendance

A United Utilities worker inspects a 4.5 metre (15ft) by six metre (20ft) sinkhole in Green Lane, Old Swan, Liverpool, caused by a suspected ruptured water main

A United Utilities worker inspects a 4.5 metre (15ft) by six metre (20ft) sinkhole in Green Lane, Old Swan, Liverpool, caused by a suspected ruptured water main

An aerial shot shows the extent of the cordon around a large sinkhole that opened up in Liverpool overnight

An aerial shot shows the extent of the cordon around a large sinkhole that opened up in Liverpool overnight

The service added that road closures are in place and the public have been asked to avoid the area

The service added that road closures are in place and the public have been asked to avoid the area 

A United Utilities worker inspects a 4.5 metre (15ft) by six metre (20ft) sinkhole in Green Lane, Old Swan, Liverpool, caused by a suspected ruptured water main

A United Utilities worker inspects a 4.5 metre (15ft) by six metre (20ft) sinkhole in Green Lane, Old Swan, Liverpool, caused by a suspected ruptured water main

A United Utilities worker inspects a 4.5 metre (15ft) by six metre (20ft) sinkhole in Green Lane, Old Swan, Liverpool, caused by a suspected ruptured water main

A United Utilities worker inspects a 4.5 metre (15ft) by six metre (20ft) sinkhole in Green Lane, Old Swan, Liverpool, caused by a suspected ruptured water main

The fire service said in a statement: ‘The incident has generated running water which is affecting the junction of Prescot Road 500 metres west and Green Lane 100 metres north.

‘Road closures are in place and several properties in the area are being affected.

‘The suspected cause is a ruptured water main but this is not yet confirmed.

‘Crews are working to restrict the flow of water and utilities companies are in attendance.’

The service added that road closures are in place and the public have been asked to avoid the area.

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