Flooding from broken water main prompts high-rise evacuation in downtown LA

A broken sprinkler pipe flooded most floors of a 27-story high-rise in downtown Los Angeles today, prompting the evacuation of the building and closure of a stretch of Olympic Boulevard.

The flooding was reported at 1:19 p.m. at 717 W. Olympic Blvd., near Figueroa Street, said Erik Scott of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Water was being restored to the mixed-use building's fire suppression system when a pipe broke on the 25th floor, flooding the floors below, Scott said.

The building, which houses business and residential tenants, was evacuated and the flow of water to the broken pipe was shut off, he said.

Residents were not expected to be allowed to inhabit the building tonight, Scott said. Olympic Boulevard was shut down in both directions in the area of the high-rise as firefighters responded.

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