Crews responded to a water main break and large sinkhole in Philadelphia’s West Oak Lane neighborhood overnight. On Tuesday, Jan. 6, at 2 a.m., the Philadelphia Water Department responded to a reported leak at Rodney and Wister streets. When they arrived they discovered an 8-inch water main bre ak and a large hole in the street. SkyForce10 was over the sinkhole along Rodney and North Wister streets on Tuesday, shortly after 9 a.m. The section of the road is currently blocked off. A Water Department spokesperson said the hole had already formed in the street due to a prior water main break in December 2025 and the road had already been excavated for ongoing repairs. “We opened up the street, saw so much debris in the sewer, we needed to clean it,” Brian Rademaekers of the Philadelphia Water Department said. “It’s been a difficult sewer to clean.” Tuesday’s water main break caused the hole to expand even more, however. NBC10 obtained surveillance video from early Tuesday morning in which a crashing sound is heard as the hole opens up. A Water Department spokesperson said they stopped the leak and no properties experienced basement flooding. They also said some residents in the immediate area could have services impacted. One of the residents, Vivian Harris, told NBC10 she had to move to a friend’s house Tuesday morning to shower after her water was impacted. “We’re rolling with a change of clothes and wash and wear,” she said. Another resident, Laverne Taylor, spent the morning boiling bottled water for her dishes. “It seems like everybody went out for Christmas,” Taylor said. “Just left that hole there and went for Christmas.” Residents should avoid the area which was barricaded by emergency crews. Those crews will return to the area Wednesday morning to continue to inspect, investigate and make repairs. The spokesperson said the Water Department will work to restore the street as soon as possible once they complete all the repairs. Customers with questions should call 215-685-6300. ...read more read less