Burst main leaves Hunghom residents high and dry
A burst pipe left most of Hunghom without flushing water for much of yesterday and forced traffic to be diverted.
A section of the 25cm saltwater pipe, near the junction of Ma Tau Wai Road and Wuhu Street, broke open at 4.15am, sending water, mud and sand bursting through the road's surface.
Flooding forced Kowloon-bound lanes of the road to be closed and traffic diverted, affecting bus routes. The Water Supplies Department shut off the saltwater supplies to the leaking section at 5.30am and dug through the road surface to repair the pipe.
Senior engineer Lee Tai-on said he expected the pipe repairs to be finished by 8pm last night, adding repairs to the road would be completed by 6am today.
The affected section of the cast-iron water main was due to be replaced in the first phase of the department's rehabilitation programme for ageing pipes.
Shortly after the Hunghom leak, a smaller salt-water pipe burst in Sheung Wan. The leak, in Queens Road West near Centre Street, occurred at 5am. Flushing water supplies were hit.
