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Manchester, NH Water Main Break Leads To Floods, Sinkholes, Evacuations

MANCHESTER, N.H. (CBS/AP) — At least 20 people have been evacuated from their homes in Manchester because of a huge flood from a water main break.

The pipe broke around at 8:15 p.m. Thursday on Goffe Street on the city's west side.

The flood of water immediately washed away a section of the street, buckled the pavement and left several sinkholes.

Watch: Carl Stevens reports from Goff Street

One resident told WBZ NewsRadio 1030 an estimated one million gallons of water came down the street and it looked like "a raging river."

The water was shut off and Goffe Street, from S. Main Street and W. Hancock Street were shut down to traffic indefinitely.

Some people can't get out of their driveways because there's a ten-foot drop where the street used to be, according to WBZ's Carl Stevens.

Manchester Flooding
Goffe Street in Manchester the day after the water main broke. (Image credit: Carl Stevens - WBZ NewsRadio 1030)

Public Service of New Hampshire shut off power to the neighborhood temporarily Thursday evening because of safety concerns.

Manchester police told WBZ-TV the cost of the damage may run between $50,000 and $100,000.

The pipe has been fixed, but workers are still conducting pressure tests on it.

The city hopes to open the road in the next two days.

Listen: WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens reports

(TM and © Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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