This spectacular footage shows filthy brown water from a flooded sewer shooting 30 feet up in the air and causing traffic chaos. The astonishing sight was captured by a motorist, named Mr. Feng, in Xi'an, in north-western China's Shaanxi Province on September 11.

Mr Feng said he was caught by surprise as the tall water column erupted through the manhole cover just as he was about to drive over it. He stopped a few feet short of the sewer after he noticed water streaming out of it and managed to film the spectacle.

The driver said he was returning home after finishing some errands in the morning when the incident occurred, and added it had only been raining for about ten minutes before it happened.

The display of sewer water mixed with rain water cascading into the sky lasted for a short while before receding, according to Fend. A part of the road became waterlogged and vehicles were forced to pass with caution.

Although rainwater sewers and foul water sewers are usually separated, in some older systems, or where it is regarded that there is not enough overflow capacity with the rainwater sewers, they can also be shared systems.

Mr Feng said although incidents of sewage backflow have been reported in the past, this was the first time he had witnessed such a sight. He described the experience as 'truly astonishing' and despite the yucky contents bizarrely said he could not help but feel a sense of wonder as the water shot up to 30 feet in the air.