OMAHA, Nebraska — A significant outage affected a portion of downtown Omaha for several hours on Thursday following an incident where a garbage truck became trapped in a sinkhole that had developed due to exposed utility lines.

The truck encountered problems around 8 a.m., causing the front end to tilt downward into the sinkhole, elevating the back wheels several inches off the ground. This sinkhole measured over 10 feet deep and became a concern after utility lines were exposed at an entrance to an alley, as reported by local firefighters.

Austin Rowser, a city engineer, informed a local television station that there had been prior concerns about the state of the alley, leading officials to install a barricade intended to prevent vehicles from accessing it. Rowser indicated that the driver of the Waste Management garbage truck had removed the barricade to navigate the alley.

In contrast, Waste Management of Nebraska contested this claim, stating in a press release that the driver encountered caution signs on the sidewalk while crossing 16th Street but did not see any barriers obstructing the entrance to the alley, prompting him to proceed.

The waste management company asserted that their internal review aligns with the driver’s account, and they are fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation conducted by the city.

In response to the incident, both the Omaha Public Power District and the Metropolitan Utilities District temporarily cut off electrical and gas services to the affected area while assessing the situation.

By early afternoon, the garbage truck was successfully removed, allowing power to be restored to the impacted neighborhoods. Furthermore, natural gas service was reinstated by Thursday evening, resulting in a gradual return to normalcy for residents in the vicinity.