Water pipe break creates sinkhole that swallowed 3 cars

Steve Apps / Wisconsin State Journal via AP

Cars are sumberged in a sinkhole at an apartment complex, Friday, Aug. 14, 2015, in Madison, Wis. About 300 residents of the complex were evacuated after a water pipe break created the sinkhole and potential gas leak.

Associated Press

Friday, Aug. 14, 2015 | 8:33 p.m.

MADISON, Wis. — About 300 residents had to evacuate an apartment complex in Madison, Wisconsin, after a water pipe broke, creating a sinkhole that swallowed three vehicles.

Madison Fire Department spokeswoman Cynthia Schuster says emergency personnel were called to the River's Edge Apartments shortly before 5 a.m. Friday.

Rajendra Aryal's Honda Civic was among the three vehicles that fell into the water-filled sinkhole. Aryal, a native of Nepal who's still learning English, tells the Wisconsin State Journal he had never heard the word "sinkhole" before it happened.

While residents had to evacuate four buildings due to initial concerns about a gas leak, that danger was later ruled out. However, two buildings still had no electricity or water Friday afternoon. Officials say those residents will likely need to spend the night elsewhere.