CUTLER BAY, Fla. (WSVN) — A boil water advisory remains in effect for several Cutler Bay businesses, hours after a water main burst at a shopping center, early Thursday morning.
According to officials, the 12-inch water main break sent water gushing into the parking lot of the strip mall along 189th Street and South Dixie Highway, at around 2:30 a.m.
The water gushed for hours, reaching the Cutler Ridge Dialysis Center, which forced patients to be evacuated and transported to another location.
Other businesses in the strip mall were also affected, including a Pet Supermarket and multiple medical offices.
One veterinary tech at an animal clinic located in the shopping center, hurried to work when he heard the news. "We saw that the water rose up to a certain level on the wall, and some of the floor panels are, like, sort of broken," said Christian Versa. "It wasn’t that bad. The water had gone down, but the entire clinic is flooded."
"Some of our patients that we have are on IV fluids," Versa added. "I wanted to make sure … nothing went wrong."
Neighboring businesses were left in a tough spot after the flooding. "It’s a loss for the company," said Percy Roque, the manager of an IHOP located next to the shopping center. "My customers are leaving. They are going to other businesses. That’s bad for the restaurant."
Officials said the ground was already saturated from Wednesday’s rain, making it harder to drain the water. However, the water has since receded.
Crews spent hours at the scene working to cap the leak. Officials said the water main broke due to "natural causes."
Miami-Dade Water and Sewer officials have said water services are back online for affected businesses located on the west side of the highway, between Southwest 188th and 192nd streets. Many of them have since reopened.
The boil water advisory will be in effect for the next two days.