Major water main break in Queens

NEW YORK (FOX 5 NY) - More than four hours later, the water has finally begun to recede in Elmhurst, Queens at the site of a massive water main break Friday. Construction machinery at the northwest corner of Broadway and Queens Blvd. struck an underground pipe causing it to burst, according to the FDNY. The result was thousands of gallons of water gushing onto the local streets.

"It looked like a geyser shooting up around the construction site," said FDNY Deputy Chief Brendan McSweeney.

The Department of Environmental Protection had a difficult time locating the valves that needed to be closed to stop the water from flowing from the ruptured pipe, added McSweeney.

CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE FLOODING

Queens Blvd. remained closed westbound between 51st Ave. and 59th Ave.

Transit officials say subway service on the M line remains suspended between Essex St. and Continental Ave. The E, F and R lines are running slow through the area.

While flooding occurred inside the Grand Ave. - Newton Station subway station, fire officials say drainage systems at the street level and below ground were effective at preventing more widespread flooding.

The ground level of a 7-story building at Broadway and Queens Blvd. was evacuated.

The site of the rupture at about 8 a.m. was the same area where scenes from the iconic movie, 'Coming to America,' were filmed.

It is not clear when Queens Blvd. would fully reopen.