Water and sewer mains left damaged by a destructive large sinkhole in Otay Mesa West this weekend have been fixed, but many residents are still without water and gas as repairs continue, officials said.
The sinkhole opened up on the 1300 block of Del Sol Lane just after 11 a.m. Saturday due to the failure of an 8-inch diameter underground metal pipe, according to Arian Collins, with the City of San Diego.
Though officials have repaired part of the problem, more than 20 homes are still without gas and water for a second day. A nearby gas line and power line were also damaged. San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) has to shut off the gas line before repair work can start on the water pipe, Collins said.
The City of San Diego brought out water tanks for those who don’t have access to water.
In its wake, the sinkhole partially swallowed a truck as well, police said. Police say the driver of the truck was able to get his vehicle out of the sinkhole and was uninjured in the incident.
Residents described when they first heard the truck fall in.
“I thought that there was an explosion it was so loud,” Resident Sandy Lehmkuhler told NBC 7. "A big, huge truck, like a U-Haul truck, about 27 feet, 26 feet … turned the corner, as he turned the corner the dual tires on the driver’s side dropped into a hole.”
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Lehmkuhler and her husband have lived in the same house since the 80s and have dealt with sinkholes in the past.
“About seven years ago, we had no grass, no yards, no fencing because we had a 70 foot long sinkhole between our house and the property next to us. It took the city about 2 years to get that all fixed up,” said Lehnkuhler.
Sandy wants to see all of the issues on her street get taken care of.
“This area has been fighting with the City of San Diego to get help down here for a long time. You can tell by the street. There are so many different markings, in so many different colors,” explained Lehmkuhler.
There is no estimated time on when the water and gas will be turned back on.
