A 36-inch steel water main beneath Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood ruptured in the early hours of Thursday, sending thousands of gallons of water flooding through nearby streets and prompting the closure of major roads on the busy Sunset Strip. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) shut off water to the affected section, and Mayor Karen Bass visited the scene, urging residents to conserve water and avoid the area while crews worked to clear the flooding and assess the damage.

The pipe, installed 110 years ago, burst around 2:30am, with water cut off by roughly 7:30am after city crews responded quickly; LADWP said no wider service interruptions are expected, though some residents, particularly on higher floors of buildings, have reported low water pressure. Crews are pumping out around 195,000 gallons of water from a 0.7-mile stretch before repairs can begin, with water in the area temporarily rerouted through an 8-inch pipe. The flooding also caused a large sinkhole to open on a nearby pavement, into which two pedestrians fell, while Sunset Boulevard remains closed between Larrabee Street and La Cienega Boulevard as authorities assess the damage.