A burst water main in Gloucester’s Matson area has unleashed a massive fountain of water, shooting hundreds of thousands of litres up to 100 feet into the air. The sheer force of the water eruption has torn apart the ground, hurling debris and causing significant damage to a nearby home.
Dramatic footage captures the relentless surge of water gushing from the earth, as powerful jets blast concrete, earth, and rocks skyward. The incident is primarily impacting the Sneedhams Road neighborhood, where authorities are responding swiftly.
One residence has suffered serious damage; rocks propelled by the water have shattered windows and destroyed roof tiles, leaving a once-pristine property in disrepair. Emergency responders from Severn Trent Water and Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service are actively managing the scene.
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Local Community Independent Councillor Alastair Chambers, representing Matson, Robinswood, and White City, described the scene: “Unbelievable — thousands of litres of water are being sprayed 100 feet in the air, blowing out thick concrete slabs in huge chunks. Tragically, a million-pound home next to the water main has been blasted with debris, breaking windows and roof tiles.”
Chambers explained that water supply cannot be turned off immediately until reservoirs are replenished via an alternate main, to prevent widespread outages affecting tens of thousands of homes. Efforts are underway to restore water service through a secondary network by the end of the day, but full repairs will take considerably longer.
In the meantime, the councillor is coordinating delivery of bottled water to local residents impacted by the disruption.