Tenants were evacuated from flats yesterday afternoon following a major water leak.
People living in Crayburn House, in Aikman Avenue, New Parks, Leicester, were told to gather their belongings and leave the building.
Council tenant Donna Downes, who has children aged three and one, was among those evacuated.
"When I arrived home with my two children at about 2.30pm there was water pouring out of the lifts and down the stairs and hallways," she said.
"The electricity was out and some of my neighbours said they had water leaking from their ceilings, too."
Housing officers from the city council's housing service were on the scene and told residents they had to leave.
"No-one could tell us what the problem was," said Ms Downes.
"They just said we had to leave and temporary accommodation was being organised.
"Because the lifts were out I had to climb several flights of stairs with my children's buggy to get to my flat and gather our things together."
Ms Downes said she had managed to organise alternative accommodation in Braunstone.
However, as she was waiting to be picked up at about 6.45pm, tenants were told it was safe to return to their flats. It is understood up to 66 homes were affected by the water leak.
A spokeswoman for Severn Trent Water said the supplier had not been informed of the problem.
No-one at the city council's housing service was available to comment.
