ROYAL PALM BEACH, Fla. — A neighborhood in Royal Palm Beach was flooded Monday after maintenance on a fire hydrant went awry.
The incident occurred around midday along Barcelona Drive and the La Mancha community.
During the repair of a hydrant at 119 Barcelona Drive, a damaged valve broke off, causing water to be released, according to the Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department.
The pressure caused one homeowner's sidewalk to collapse as water started pooling underneath his driveway.
One driver stalled out in the floodwaters, and neighbors said they did not have any running water at their homes.
"My car was parked on the side, and the water was up to the door," said resident Meron Cole. "You could barely get in to move it on the lawn over here."
"I had to turn my car sideways because it's electric," said resident Mike King. "I didn't want water getting into the batteries or anything."
Many intersections and streets were closed in the neighborhood. Madrid Street is one of the few ways that residents of hundreds of homes can exit the area.
Workers at the scene were busy unclogging storm drains and eventually turned the water off, allowing the water to recede.
Water was restored to the neighborhood shortly before 6 p.m.
Last month a contractor working near Las Palmas Street in Royal Palm Beach struck a water line, causing a break that impacted more than 130 customers.
