Giant Sinkhole Devours Traffic Intersection In Brooklyn
A massive sinkhole opened up in Brooklyn on the morning of August 4, causing major traffic problems in the city. According to CBS NewYork, the massive sinkhole opened up just before 7 a.m.,Tuesday at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and 64th Street in Sunset Park. The sinkhole took a major part of an intersection as well as a street corner with it. No injuries were reported following the collapse, confirmed MyFoxNY. Initial reports say that the giant sinkhole measures about 20 feet wide and 20 feet deep.
Officials and workers from the National Grid rushed to the spot and were working on affected gas lines in order to repair the damage. CBS also reports that north bound N train is expecting delays due to the wreckage. The sinkhole destroyed water lines to several businesses in the area.
Several pictures of the massive sinkhole were posted on Twitter. From the pictures, it is evident that the sinkhole was large enough to easily swallow a car. The New York Fire Department posted photos showing the extent of damage to the intersection.
#HappeningNow: ongoing #FDNY operations at sinkhole at 5th Ave & 64 St in #Brooklyn. pic.twitter.com/jFp2NjxkFC
— FDNY (@FDNY) August 4, 2015
A giant sinkhole has opened up in New York city http://t.co/Tb8HyaKl3E pic.twitter.com/p1Ffhcahrs
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) August 4, 2015
UPDATE: Surveillance video shows huge sinkhole opening up in Sunset Park section of Brooklyn http://t.co/Oye2AZdOXZ pic.twitter.com/BeOjh1wDZ3
— Eyewitness News (@ABC7NY) August 4, 2015
“It appears to be some sort of water leak that undermined the road, washed away the earth and that’s why the street gave way,” FDNY Deputy Chief Peter Leicht told WABC News.
According to Frank Bowman, a person whose rooftop surveillance camera caught the sinkhole on camera, there were cars on it just minutes before the road caved in.
“There were cars on it just minutes before. There was no warning, this thing just happened quick.”
“I’ve never seen anything like this,” another unidentified man said. “This is really crazy.”
As of now, it remains unclear whether a 48-inch water main pipe that passed underneath the intersection was the cause behind the sinkhole. An investigation would be launched to check for any signs of negligence in maintaining the road. Authorities are also investigating if there were any construction site that could have caused the sinkhole.
[Image Via Fire Department Of New York]
