A major water pipe in Shanghai's Zhabei District blew up yesterday morning and flooded two roads, soaking scores of homes and stores and causing a serious traffic jam during the rush hour.

The accident took place just after 5am at the intersection of Changzhong and Pingshun roads.

Witnesses said the water gushed out as high as two meters from the crack. The flow even pushed down a big tree close to the crack.

Nearly 200 meters of Changzhong Road, and a 60-meter section of Pingshun Road were almost turned into a river between 30 and 40 centimeters deep.

More than 30 stores along the roads, including auto part stores, barber shops, logistics companies and more than 40 residential apartments in the Changzhong Residential Complex, were soaked in water as high as 20 centimeters.

The water also poured into the complex garage where it was knee deep. It is unknown if cars were damaged.

Police soon blocked the street section closer to the pipe crack. Only some trucks were allowed to pass. Other vehicles were forced to take a detour.

"It cost me 20 minutes to get to the other end of the road, and my pants were dampened," said Xu Rongmiao who was riding a bicycle to work.

The water company said they didn't receive the damage report until 7am, and sent their repair team 15 minutes later.

The valves were switched off. Fire fighters were called to assist clearing the water from the road with their pumps.

Traffic returned to normal around 9am.

According to the Shanghai Waterworks Shibei Co, the pipe operator, the pipe is 70 centimeters in diameter and carried water from a water plant in Zhabei to a water pool at a pump station nearby.

Water supply to nearby residents was not affected because of sufficient storage in the pool, said Shibei Waterworks spokesman Li Chunhui.

Officials with the company's Hubei Water Supply Station said the pipe is 30 years old and said there may have been heavily loaded trucks passing over this morning. The pipe was fixed yesterday evening.

Li said they are working with insurance company on the compensation of the stores and residents.

(Shanghai Daily October 28, 2005)