Urinal water soaks House media gallery

WASHINGTON, June 5 (UPI) -- Old newspapers, magazines and other periodicals didn't line bird cages but were used to block water escaping a men's bathroom near the U.S. House Press Gallery.

Officials said something broke in the piping of the urinal, sending water gushing from beneath the men's room door, the National Journal reported Monday.

The water moved through the media gallery, which had fewer reporters and staffers than usual because the House was not in session until Tuesday.

Capitol Police, gallery staff and other personnel staunched the flow by using newspapers, magazines and other periodicals as do-it-yourself sponges and sandbags before vacuums could suction the water.

New carpeting was scheduled to be installed after a section of the floor covering was removed.