SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Authorities say a break in a water main has flooded streets and created a huge sinkhole in a San Francisco neighborhood.

A spokeswoman for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission says the leak, reported around 11 a.m. Tuesday, is believed to come from a 42-inch water transmission main.

Water pouring out of the water main flooded a section of Sunnydale Avenue in the city's Visitacion Valley neighborhood, forcing authorities to close about three blocks of the roadway as crews worked on capping the leak.

By mid-afternoon crews had stopped the flow of water and were working on isolating the leak.

Drivers are being advised to avoid the area.