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Sink Repair Starts Major Water Leak, Evacuation Of Allston Apartment Building

BOSTON (CBS) - Nearly 200 people were forced out of their homes in the middle of the night because of a major water leak inside a high-rise apartment building in Allston.

It happened around midnight on the fifth floor of 15 North Beacon Street, an 11-story building with about 120 apartment units.

The Boston Fire Department said a tenant was doing work on his sink when he broke a high pressure hot water line. The water and power was shut off to prevent further damage and the complex was evacuated.

"This thing starts on the fifth floor and then it migrates down to the third floor, right on down," said Deputy Fire Chief Stephen McNeil.

"I was sleep, there was a huge siren going off that you can't miss. Beyond that I'm waiting for the green light to go back and hopefully that's sooner rather than later," tenant Jason Assaad told WBZ-TV.

allston evacuation
The high rise at 15 North Beacon St was evacuated early Friday. (Photo credit: Boston Fire Dept.)

A temporary shelter has been opened for residents at the Jackson Mann School across the street. They'll be able to return once the electricity is turned back on.

The man who was doing the repair work that started the incident suffered burns on his hands when the hot water pipe broke. The injuries are minor, according to the fire department.

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