The Kensington sinkhole that ate 2 SUVs

A water main break and a sinkhole large enough to swallow two cars appeared to be symptoms of a larger problem for a street in Philadelphia's Kensington neighborhood Sunday, the Philadelphia Water Department reported.

The 30-by-10-foot hole on the 2300 block of East Boston Street opened up between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. after a six-inch water main broke, and was just a hint of a larger collapse beneath half a block of the street, said John DiGiulio, a spokesman for the water department. The street has been barricaded, he said, and the water department will begin repairs Monday on what is likely a problem with the sewer in the area. In the meantime people should avoid walking on that area of the street, he said.

Twenty homes on that block lost water, and gas service was cut to six homes as a precautionary measure.

The water department delivered two cases of water to every home affected, but there was no evacuation ordered, DiGiulio said. Some residents who lost gas service opted to stay elsewhere for the night, he said.

Jason Laughlin