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Allegheny County evacuates apartment complex after water main break

Allegheny County evacuated residents from a high-rise apartment building in West Mifflin on Monday night after a water pipe broke inside the building.

West Mifflin Manor is an eight-story apartment complex at 2400 Sharp Avenue. It’s owned by the county housing authority.

The county tweeted at 8:18 p.m. Monday that first responders were at the scene.

“We received a call for an automatic fire alarm and we arrived on scene and discovered a major water leak,” said Jamme Magyar, deputy fire chief for Duquesne Annex Volunteer Fire Department.

Officials said three water lines busted on the fifth floor, raining water down there and on all the floors below.

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“The water was coming down through the building,” said resident Michael Lape. “It didn't come through my apartment, but it was coming down the halls, too, so the electric's off, the heat's off, everything's off. You can see they are putting people in these buses.”

The county requested buses from the Port Authority to help displaced residents. About 100 of them were taken to West Mifflin High School, where the Red Cross set up a shelter. Some residents were picked up by their families.

Some residents had to be taken to the hospital for chest and back pain. It was not clear when the breaks would be fixed or when residents would be allowed back in their homes.

Firefighters said they've never seen a water leak this bad.

“It's pretty severe. The biggest issue is trying to get it shut,” Magyar said.

Officials said Tuesday morning that all residents secured a place to stay.