A 12-inch water main broke over the weekend in Boston’s Chinatown, leaving part of a densely populated block without water before service was restored Sunday, said Stephen Mulloney, spokesperson for the Boston Water and Sewer Commission.
BWSC received the first call about the break at 10:26 p.m. Saturday, Mulloney said. The affected area covers roughly half a block and includes apartment buildings, cafes, and restaurants.
The water main, installed in 1988, was repaired Sunday after crews worked around several underground utilities, including National Grid, Xfinity, and steam pipes.
“They’re just being very careful, but they are making progress,” Mulloney said.
Water service has since been restored to residents and businesses. Crews are expected to backfill the excavation and temporarily pave the road Sunday, with permanent paving to follow “in the next few days or weeks,” Mulloney said.
The cause of the break is still unknown and will be revealed after a forensic investigation.
Aayushi Datta can be reached at aayushi.datta@globe.com.