A driver had a lucky escape when a pothole “exploded” just inches from their car.
CCTV footage shows the vehicle pulling over to the side of the three-lane road when the tarmac suddenly “erupted” beside it.
The car could be seen jolting and shuddering as the crater formed, resembling a mini volcanic eruption.
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The hole appeared on a main road in central São Paulo, Brazil, at around 11pm on 1 March.
A loud bang was heard at the time, frightening locals and passers-by.
A few hours before the explosion, residents had reported the smell of burning rubber or plastic, according to local media.
Officials arrived at the scene and covered the crater with a tarp, as reported by Need To Know.
Enel Distribuição São Paulo, which manages the local electricity network, has been tasked with investigating the cause.
The company said: “To carry out the work safely, it was necessary to cut power for a single customer, who is currently being served via generator.
“It is still unknown whether the incident is related to the electrical network.”
The local gas company, Comgás, inspected the area shortly after the incident and confirmed there were no leaks.
Water and sewage systems were reported to be operating normally.
A 50m stretch of the road was closed to traffic following the explosion.
The car seen in the footage was lightly hit by debris, but no injuries were reported.
Online, João joked: “I thought Godzilla was going to appear.”
Lucas asked: “How did the driver know?”
And Di remarked: “They had a real lucky escape, apart from the financial loss they would have suffered.”
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