Massive sinkhole swallows street in New Orleans' Seventh Ward

NEW ORLEANS -- Neighbors said it started as a dip in the road Friday afternoon, and then the street started to cave.

Before long, there was a sinkhole near the intersection of Touro and North Robertson streets in the Seventh Ward.

"Somebody could have turned and went straight in there," said neighbor Arlease Ward.

Ward called police and started to direct traffic around the compromised roadway.

Folks who live in the area are worried the damage to the street may end up causing problems to their homes.

"I don't want the foundation to shift," Ward said.

Officials with the Sewerage and Water Board said they got the call about 2 p.m. They sent out a repair crew immediately.

Officials said someone struck a fire hydrant and never reported it. The hydrant ruptured and caused a leak underground.

"The underground rupture is what washed out the area," said Sewerage and Water Board spokesman Robert Jackson.

One worker was in up to his hard hat in the hole while making repairs. Truckloads of sand and other filler material were brought in.

For now, the water has been shut off until everything is fixed. For neighbors it's a waiting game.

"I'm just worried about how long it might take for the Sewerage and Water Board to resolve this problem," Ward said.

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