An excavator struck an underground water pipe, sending a giant fountain shooting skyward on a busy road.

Footage shows the dramatic burst of water erupting from the metal tube buried beneath the intersection of Changle Road and Zhongshan Road in Nanjing, China.

The water gushed rapidly, spilling across the motorway as motorists drove past on the evening of September 25.

The incident created a striking ‘fountain-like' display, with colours from traffic lights and nearby shop signs shimmering through the cascading spray.

The powerful stream surged for several minutes while workers scrambled to assess the situation.

Authorities said the excavator accidentally struck the pipe during a pipeline reconstruction project, rupturing the underground tube.

The sudden break disrupted supply, leaving surrounding households without running water until emergency crews completed repairs.