Dozens of Queens residents were evacuated from their homes early Saturday after a water main break caused water to gush into basements and destroy parked cars.
Astoria residents recounted being awakened by police at around 5 a.m. and told to vacate their homes. Some brought with them nothing but their winter coats.
Andrea Acosta said her car was ruined by the deluge, with water up to its windows. Red Cross workers could be seen at the site.
One elderly person was taken to the hospital as a precaution, fire officials said.
City workers shut down an 8-inch water main after the break and completed repairs by 11:30 p.m., city environmental officials said. The break happened near the work site of a private construction crew that had been installing sewer connections, officials said.
