Rio de Janeiro (AFP) - A water main ruptured in western Rio Tuesday, destroying several homes and leaving many residents injured, firefighters said.
Footage aired by Globonews television showed cars, garbage containers and some rickety homes being swept in a torrent of water cascading from the broken pipe.
The municipal water utility Cedae confirmed that the pipe ruptured. Power and water in the area were cut off.
Local media said firefighters used inflatable boats to rescue stranded residents while several ambulances were sent to ferry the injured to hospitals.