It started as a small crack in a water pipe and within minutes a three metre wide hole was sending a jet of water 10 metres into the air in Los Angeles.
The rupture flooded the iconic Sunset Boulevard and the University with millions of litres of water on the loose.
The Fire Department reported five people were trapped in their cars.
Local roads were inundated and water poured into underground car parks.
It took over three hours for the flow of water to be stopped prompting anger at the response time among many of the locals.
But officials pointed out the pipes dating back to 1921 had to be closed slowly to avoid further damage.
Some took the chance of fun in the water with boogie boards before the clean up operation could get underway.
