Massachussetts residents experience ‘tornado of poop’ after mass blockage causes raw sewage toilet explosions

Residents in a Massachusetts town experienced what was — hopefully — a once-in-a-lifetime "tornado of poop" after a massive underground blockage caused several toilets to erupt with waste.

What are the details?

The incident took place on Thursday in Melrose, Massachusetts, when a raw sewage invaded many residents' homes.

One resident, Silvana Ortiz, told WHDH-TV that it all started off with a bubble.

"I was getting ready for work and then I heard a bubble," she explained. "It was a crazy scene. It literally just spun and flowed out." Ortiz said that "a tornado of poop started forming and started spewing out."

Ortiz said that the explosion "destroyed anything," including personal effects like her wedding dress. She told The Boston Globe that she will have to pay approximately $8,000 to repair the damage that the raw sewage caused to her home.

“I pretty much told [the city], 'I don't know what's more disgusting: the feces in my living room or the way the city is responding to it,'" she said, after revealing that the city was radio silent for an entire day before addressing the disturbing matter.

Melrose Mayor Gail Infurna said that the "tornado[es]" occurred because of a large sewer line blockage. Infurna insisted that the Department of Public Works "responded immediately" after learning of the "potential water issue."

According to Infurna, four houses were impacted by the problem.

From the mayor's blog:

On Thursday morning, the Department of Public Works was called to Brazil Street about a potential water issue. A DPW crew responded immediately and began the process of checking the area manholes to determine where the problem was. Once the area of the blockage was determined, equipment was brought in to address the situation. In working to resolve the blockage, DPW staff followed the Department's normal protocol and proceeded to jet the block in the line in order to restore flow. At some point during that process, sewerage surcharged back into four properties on Brazil Street. The City is conducting an independent review by an outside engineering firm to determine possible causes for this blockage and the ensuing surcharges.

The blockage was reportedly dealt with, and the city continues investigating "the ensuing damage."

"Our top priority right now is the safety and well-being of the residents of Brazil Street," Infurna wrote in the blog post. "I have directed my staff to assist residents with emergency accommodations and we will continue to monitor the situation closely."