Car in Philadelphia swallowed by sinkhole, dozens of homes without water and gas

A sinkhole opened up on a street in the US city of Philadelphia, swallowing a car and left dozens of homes without water and gas for nearly 24 hours.

No one was hurt in the Feb 25 incident which took place on the 2700 block of Birch Street in Port Richmond at 1.30pm.

Videos posted on social media showed a parked car being suddenly swallowed up by the sinkhole, while another vehicle tethers on the edge.

News reports said the cars were removed by the morning of Feb 26.

City officials said the sinkhole was caused by a broken 15cm-wide water pipe and investigations into the cause of the burst pipe are ongoing.

The Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) sent workers to inspect the sewer and underground piping before repairing the pipe, reported CBS News.

PWD said the pipe was installed in 1880 and has no history of breaks or leaks.

Workers were also able to restore water and gas to 30 homes along Birch Street on Feb 26.

However, the street remained closed, with a water department spokesperson telling local news outlet Fox 29 there is no timeline as to when repairs will be done for both the pipe and the street.

The incident has shocked residents.

“I’ve been here 60 years I’ve never seen anything like this,” Ms Maggie Razzi told ABC News.

Police officer Steve Williams said it was his wife’s silver SUV that fell into the sinkhole.

He told CBS News that he was at work when he received a “panic call” from his wife.

“I kinda left work early and when I got home, I saw that… sinkhole. Her car was in it,” Mr Williams said.