A family in Cork city has had to move out of their home after a burst water main appears to have led to a sinkhole in their driveway and caused structural damage to their home.
Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, Irish Water's Regional Operations Manager Margaret Attridge said a technical team is on site at the house in Mahon to assess the damage.
She explained that there was a sudden release of water yesterday morning, which washed away the soil foundation to the concrete driveway and found a route underneath the house to cause the damage.
Ms Attridge said the sinkhole has created a cavern underneath the driveway and home, which has caused the subsidence.
Ms Attridge said no other homes have been affected and the priority is to look after the family and make it safe for them to return home as soon as possible.
She said that if the damage has been caused by water and water pipes, it will be Irish Water's responsibility to repair it.
She said burst water mains can release sudden, significant bursts of water and it normally depends on where the burst occurs.
Ms Attridge said Cork City Council's quick response minimised the damage.
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