Oceanside streets flooded by water main break

Water flooded the streets and about 30 homes in Oceanside after a main broke Monday afternoon, authorities said.

In a scene reminscent of the aftermath of a hurricane, roads were under water around Pearl Street by Rockaway Avenue, with cars partially submerged and people wading through floods up to their knees. Oceanside firetrucks and firefighters arrived to try to pump out the water.

Nassau police said the main burst just after 3:30 p.m. and authorities were pumping the water out into Hewlett Bay.

Christopher Buday, vice president of operations for New York American Water, said 10 homes remained without water Monday night and would be provided with bottled water.

“There was a 12-inch cast iron main that had a break and leaked water,” Buday said from scene.

A customer service representative earlier in the evening said repairs were underway and were expected to be done by midnight.

The water was receding, a police spokesman said shortly after 7 p.m., but Pearl Street remained closed between Ocean and Rockaway avenues. After the water is pumped out, the roadway will be dug up to determine the location of the break, police said.

No injuries were reported, police said.