Community Corner
As Massive Chatsworth Sinkhole Expands, City Plans Repair Work
A massive sinkhole that swallowed up two vehicles with four people Monday night now spans the width of Iverson Road.
CHATSWORTH, CA — The Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday voted to spend $500,000 to repair a massive sinkhole that swallowed two vehicles and four people in Chatsworth amid torrential rain Monday night.
The sinkhole continued to grow Tuesday, spreading across the entire length of Iverson Road. The council suspended a rule allowing it to take up the non-agendized items to take up the funding issue. However, the Measure M funding will be subject to approval by Mayor Karen Bass.
It was not immediately clear when the repair work would begin nor how long the work would take.
Find out what's happening in Northridge-Chatsworthfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
While Los Angeles is expected to get a reprieve from the rain Wednesday, another storm is bearing down on the region and is expected to hit Friday night.
The sinkhole presented a dangerous challenge for firefighters Monday when it emerged. It was reported just before 7:30 p.m. at 11414 Iverson Road and immediately swallowed two vehicles. However, Firefighters couldn't immediately get to the victims because of the precarious state of the roadway.
Find out what's happening in Northridge-Chatsworthfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Two people were able to climb out on their own, but two others remained trapped as the road continued to collapse above them.
As the road quickly deteriorated, crews were forced to conduct a "high angle rope rescue operation" to save them, authorities said.
"The road is completely compromised and unpassable to traffic nor is it able to support emergency vehicles," Margaret Stewart, a spokesperson for the fire department said Monday. "Firefighters then secured the vehicles to limit shifting, which had already occurred twice. The road was continuing to sluff and deteriorate, necessitating an immediate rescue to save their lives," Stewart said.
A firefighter was lowered down to secure a young girl and a woman with a harness and then raise them to the surface, said Stewart.
In the end, all four people who fell into the sinkhole made it out alive.
The woman and girl were taken to a hospital with minor injuries, Stewart said.
City News Service contributed to this report.
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