Water main break investigated; caused millions in damages at VU hospital

The municipality of Amsterdam has launched an investigation into the cause of the water main burst in Amsterdam-Zuid on Tuesday morning. The flooding that resulted from the burst lead to the complete evacuation of the VU Medical Center and tens of millions of euros in damages at the hospital.

The investigation into the cause of the burst is being performed by VGA Verzekeringen, the municipality's insurance company, the Telegraaf reports. The insurance company is performing the investigation because of the considerable damage the burst caused. The investigation should point out who is responsible for the burst. When the results will be available is unclear.

Water company Waternet, who is responsible for the water line, hired a contractor on Wednesday to repair the drinking water line. The line is being replaced over a length of 30 meters. In addition to the drinking water line, repairs also have to be done to a rainwater pipe, that drains away rainwater.

VUmc director Wouter Bos estimates that the flooding caused tens of millions of euros worth of material damage to the hospital, excluding the loss of income caused by the closure of the hospital, the Volkskrant reports. The hospital will be closed for at least a week. A significant amount of damage was done to technical installations and equipment in the basement of the hospital.

The hospital reopened the outpatient clinic and some other services on Wednesday.