LOS ANGELES — Flooding from a broken water main began to create a sinkhole on a Westwood street before Los Angeles Water and Power Department crews were able to shut off the water, authorities said Tuesday.

Los Angeles Fire Department personnel were called at 10:30 p.m. Monday to the 10400 block of Wilkins Avenue near Thayer Avenue where they learned the flooding began when an old 8-inch-wide cast-iron pipe broke and began gushing water, a local news station reported.

A sinkhole began to form until LADWP crews arrived and shut off the water.