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Published on January 07, 2025
Massive Sinkhole Disrupts North Philadelphia’s Hunting Park, City Officials and Residents Address Urgent ConcernSource: Google Street View

A massive sinkhole that emerged in North Philadelphia's Hunting Park section has residents and city officials grappling with both the aftermath and the cause of this sudden ground collapse. The incident occurred on the 3700 block of North 6th Street, with surveillance footage obtained by FOX 29 showing a SEPTA bus narrowly missing disaster as it drove over the section of road just minutes prior to the sinkhole's formation.

Shortly after the bus passed, the sinkhole expanded, prompting residents like Eli Hernandez, a 6th Street resident, to venture out of their homes and survey the unexpectedly altered landscape. Hernandez described the sound as "a big boom, like a muffled mushroom cloud kind of sound," in a statement obtained by FOX 29. Following the event, the Philadelphia Water Department arrived on the scene to assess the damage and found a water pipe that had been newly repaired last Friday. Yesterday, a crane and steel beams had been positioned to support the compromised water pipe.

In a statement to FOX 29, the Water Department noted that they had mended a water main and were in the midst of inspecting the sewer, with the plan to collaborate with other utilities and establishments to restore the road; while the work continues, the block remains closed to traffic with the assurance that residents will be kept informed as the situation develops.

Meanwhile, the winter weather has added another layer of complication as snow blankets the site, concealing the sinkhole's extent. The Philadelphia Water Department had previously made repairs to a water main, according to PWD spokesman Brian Rademaekers in an interview with NBC Philadelphia. Despite these repairs, a clear timeline for the complete restoration of the street remains unclear. Further inspections of the sewer are required, and discussions with other utility providers must take place before repaving efforts can begin, Rademaekers said.

For now, as reported by 6abc, the gaping hole has been safely cordoned off, yet it continues to disrupt the daily flow of life for the locals of Hunting Park, raising concerns about urban infrastructure and the city's readiness to tackle emergent yet potentially dangerous urban anomalies like this sinkhole.