Broken main floods Philly neighborhood

PHILADELPHIA, July 10 (UPI) -- Residents of a neighborhood in Southwest Philadelphia awoke Friday to find they had been flooded by a break in a 30-inch water main.

Water turned streets into rivers and flooded basements, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported. The break was reported about 4:30 a.m. and the water continued to flow from the broken pipe for four hours.

About 75 houses were temporarily without water, Fox29 Philadelphia reported. By afternoon, service was restored by rerouting.

Late in the day, workers were still trying to fix the broken pipe. Officials said the main that broke was installed in 1927.

While no injuries were reported, residents said belongings stored in basements and garages were ruined. The city water department said compensation would be paid for damage.

One firefighter told the Inquirer mud was so heavy in the neighborhood it almost took his boot off.