This is the moment a manhole suddenly bursts open and its metal cover knocks out a passing pedestrian pulling a suitcase.
The freak accident was followed by a series of similar blasts which blew off other nearby manhole covers in the city of Dongguan in South China’s Guangdong Province on 19th February.
Video Credit: AsiaWire
CCTV footage shows the victim, who was not named, walking near a pavement when the manhole next to him suddenly explodes, its heavy metal cover springing into the air and hitting him square on the head.
Witnessed gathered around the pedestrian as he lay unconscious on the ground while bleeding heavily from his head.
But when paramedics arrived to take the victim to hospital, further explosions were heard – and several were caught on camera.
Manholes in the area burst with loud bangs as the bio gas in the sewers was set ablaze.
Authorities say the pedestrian suffered no life-threatening injuries and is recovery in hospital.
No others were injured during the freak accident, but one SUV was driven into a coverless manhole during the chaos.
Dongguan police later confirmed highly flammable bio gas in the sewers was ignited by welders working in a nearby residential district, with the blast being carried by the underground pipes and escaping at manholes along the way.
Further investigations are ongoing.
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Story By: Scott Feng, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: AsiaWire
