Homes evacuated after water main burst in East Vancouver

Several homes were evacuated Tuesday morning after a water main burst in East Vancouver.

Water could be seen shooting up from where the line broke just after 1 a.m. in the 4400-block of Nanaimo Street. A crater can now be seen in the middle of the street.

Officials are telling drivers to avoid the area as three of the four lanes along that stretch are heavily damaged. Crews are now digging up the concrete to get to the line to fix it.

Nanaimo Street between East 27th Avenue and East 29th Avenue could be closed for several days, although crews hope to have the west side of the street open later Tuesday.

WATCH: Homes evacuated after water main burst in East Vancouver

2:44 Homes evacuated after water main burst in East Vancouver

The water main was installed in the 1960s and should last 100 years so it’s a mystery why it burst on Tuesday morning.

Two homes suffered water damage when the pipe burst. One of the homeowners told Global News she has been up all night dealing with the damage.

“I heard some water trickling down. I ran downstairs and I saw water in my basement. And then moments later I heard the doorbell ring and the cops came and said ‘a water main broke’,” said homeowner Juliana Lee.