A biker had a lucky escape after a 40-inch pipe burst beneath a road, ripping up the tarmac and sending water shooting into the air like a geyser.
CCTV footage shows a stretch of the road tearing apart just seconds after the motorcyclist had ridden over it.
A powerful jet of water erupted into the air, sending chunks of debris flying and landing all around.
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Nearby road users could be seen scrambling to safety as the chaos unfolded on Tuesday afternoon (22 September).
The incident happened in Venezuela when a 40-inch main pipeline belonging to the Táchira Regional Aqueduct ruptured.
The resulting jet of water reached several metres into the air and was reportedly visible from several kilometres away.
At least three businesses in the area were severely damaged, and a vehicle was destroyed.
Danny Navarro, one of the affected shopkeepers, reported major material losses to machinery, walls and roof structures.
A 59-year-old man at one of the other businesses was also injured, as reported by Need To Know.
Nelson Chacón, who works as a security guard, was struck on the head by a stone propelled by the force of the rupture.
He was taken to a medical centre for treatment and is now out of danger.
The damage to the pipeline meant the local drinking water supply had to be temporarily suspended.
The Ministry of Water said in a statement yesterday (23 September): “In less than 24 hours, the Multidisciplinary Water Team repaired a fault in a 40-inch-diameter pipeline belonging to the La Frontera feeder in the Las Vegas de Táriba area of Cárdenas municipality, Táchira state.”
It added: “Once the repairs were completed, the water service was progressively restored to more than 47,000 families supplied by the distribution network.”
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