Major Water Main Break Floods Southwest Philadelphia Neighborhood

PHILADELPHIA — A major water main broke Wednesday morning in a West Philadelphia neighborhood, flooding several blocks and leaving more than a dozen schools without water.

According to the Philadelphia Water Department, a 48-inch water main broke in the city's Kingsessing neighborhood in Southwest Philadelphia.

The break is at 56th Street and Springfield Avenue, the Water Department said.

Customers in the area may experience low water pressure, according to the department.

Emergency responders have been at the scene of the break since about 6 a.m., the Philadelphia Fire Department said.

According to the fire department, the 48-inch main is one of the city's largest mains and flooded about a 12-block area

Five people were rescued from homes and given shelter, and all other residents were able to shelter in their homes, according to Action News.

Fox 29 reports 16 schools in the area do not have running water due to the break. Those schools are:

• Penrose School
• Little School House
• Henry C. Lea School
• Tilden Middle School
• John Bartram High School
• Motivation High School
• Add B. Anderson School
• William L. Sayre High School
• Andrew Hamilton School
• Avery D. Harrington School
• John M. Patterson School
• William C. Longstreth School
• Thomas G. Morton School
• Joseph W. Catharine School and Catharine Annex
• Mitchell Elementary School
• William C. Bryant School

Drivers are urged to avoid the area.