A gushing water main break in the heart of San Diego's Little Italy left many streets flooded, and nearby businesses closed, as crews worked to fix the break.
The 16-inch concrete pipe broke around 6 a.m. Sunday near Juniper and Kettner Boulevard, San Diego police (SDPD) said.
The gushing water blocked southbound Kettner Blvd. from West Kalmia to Juniper.
"I saw some of the water, thought maybe it was a water hydrant that busted open," said Manny Delaney, a nearby resident. "As I got closer, I could see the water shooting up from the road, and the water lifted, about a foot, and water gushed down."
Public transit in the area was also affected. The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) reports the Green Line commute was impacted until about 6 a.m. Monday. Now it’s running on its normal schedule.
After the water was turned off, many streets were still flooded.
Joey Vaiasuso works on sculptures and furniture and shares his workspace with a group of artists. He said the damage is extensive to both the property and their work tools.
"Lots of machines under water ... lots of works in progress under water, so it's going to be a pretty big deal for all the tenants down here," he told NBC 7. "I know we're going to be put out of business for a good amount of time."
The streets were reopened Sunday after being closed for several hours.
The Crack Shack and Bird Rock Roasters say they will be open Monday.
