Robert Besser
21 Jan 2022, 12 GMT+10
BELLEVUE, Washington: Fire officials in Bellevue, Washington said two people escaped from a home that partially slid off its foundation and collapsed after a water main break and landslide in the Somerset neighborhood earlier this week.
Local residents were evacuated while experts sought to determine whether the area remained safe.
Firefighters were called to the 5000 block of 139th Place Southeast just after 4 a.m. following a report of minor flooding near the upper half of the Somerset neighborhood, said Jay Hagen from the Bellevue Fire Department.
Hagen added that after firefighters arrived, they noticed a large amount of water flowing around one home, and went to Forest Ridge Elementary School above the home to investigate the source. When they returned, the home had slid halfway off its foundation.
Bellevue Police Department Public Information Officer Meeghan Black said 17 homes were evacuated within a half-mile radius of the slide and are now being evaluated.
"We really are concerned about that structure at the collapsed home and all the structures in the immediate area. We have called in specialized resources from Olympia this morning to help us determine the stability of the structures and the soil around the structures, so that we can determine where it is safe or not safe to reoccupy and get folks back into their homes," Hagen added, as reported by kiro7.com.
Hagen stressed that natural gas could be leaking somewhere after gas lines were severed when the home slid, and firefighters are working with Puget Sound Energy staff to determine the source.
Police said that 42 people and several pets have been evacuated, and teams have identified seven homes that are either in the path of the collapsed home or cannot be accessed due to unsafe road conditions.
Get a daily dose of San Diego Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to San Diego Sun.
More InformationSAN FRANCISCO, California: In a letter released this week, the archbishop of San Francisco, Salvatore Cordileone, said U.S. House Speaker ...
SACRAMENTO, California: In another blow to the state's push to diversify corporate leadership, a California court judge has ruled that ...
The NFL scouting combine will remain in Indianapolis through at least 2024. The NFL made the announcement on Tuesday during ...
The Milwaukee Brewers will be without All-Star closer Josh Hader as they continue their three-game series in San Diego. Hader ...
Washington [US], May 24 (ANI): Hollywood star Woody Harrelson's latest movie, 'Triangle of Sadness', recently received an impressive eight-minute standing ...
Some late obstacles must be overcome before Chelsea moves on from the Roman Abramovich eraThe Chelsea takeover saga has hit ...
MOSCOW, Russia: McDonald's has announced that it will sell all its branches in Russia to one of its local licensees, ...
SYDNEY, NSW, Australia - The euro has jumped above 1.0700 in Asian trading Tuesday, but stocks have fallen sharply.The run ...
MILAN, Italy: Netflix and Italy have agreed to a $59 million settlement to to settle a four-year tax dispute, Milan ...
LONDON, England: British consumers continued to shop as normal last month, despite the highest inflation rate in 40 years, with ...
NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stocks rocketed higher Monday, a rally ignited by a weakening of the U.S. dollar ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: Following baby formula shortages throughout the United States, FDA Commissioner Robert Califf has said that Abbott Laboratories and ...