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Water Main Break Leads To Flooding At East Falls Shopping Center

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- An early morning water main break left a shopping center in Northwest Philadelphia a muddy mess.

Crews from the Philadelphia Water Department were working to repair the 48 inch water main that burst around 5:30 Saturday morning at Baker's Centre along the 3400 block of Fox Street in East Falls.

The break led to flooding in the parking lot of the shopping center which is anchored by a ShopRite and a Ross Department Store.

"All you see is like a little lake in front of the store," said Tarik, an employee at Ross. "And the mud, waves of mud all on the asphalt."

Officials say crews responded immediately, shutting down the main

"It's been very cold the past week or so and there's been a lot of water main breaks in the city," says Water Department spokesman John DiGiulio, "but we're working to fix them as quickly as possible and anyone that is impacted by water main breaks - we're working with them."

At least 15 employees at the ShopRite had to be evacuated, some with the help of firefighters.

There were no injuries reported.

Several roads in the area were closed as a result.

DiGiulio says customers in the area were not expected to lose water or experience low pressure.

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