A pipe burst on the ground floor of Waterfield Library shortly before 9 a.m., resulting in immediate flooding and students evacuated.

Cris Ferguson, dean of university libraries, said an antifreeze leak from the HVAC cooling system caused the burst.

“A pipe (burst) in a mechanical room that is part of the HVAC system,” Ferguson said. “It has coolant that runs through it when the building (needs it).” 

Ferguson also said she cannot and will not speculate on the cause of the burst. 

Jesse Adams, a student who was in Waterfield when it happened, said he and his friends were working at the computers in the front lobby when the event happened. 

“We heard some commotion from other people,” Adams said. “We looked up to find the floor filling with water.”

Julie Cyzewski, associate professor, emailed the English department, saying Scholar’s Week has been relocated to Faculty Hall Room 206, from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Racer Dining at Murray State’s Facebook page posted an update, saying Einstein Bros. Bagels will be temporarily closed today and tomorrow. The update also said all other dining locations are still open and operating as normal under their spring hours. 

The library posted on its Instagram page Friday morning that it would be closed through April 20.

Facilities Management did not respond to a reporter’s inquiry.