An underground water pipe burst on Nice's boulevard de l'Ariane on Thursday evening, flooding the street and cutting water supply to between 15,000 and 20,000 residents across the Ariane district and the neighbouring commune of La Trinité, according to ICI Azur.
The break occurred near number 83 on the boulevard, according to water utility Eau d'Azur, which said the ruptured pipe measured 40cm in diameter. Footage shared by residents on social media showed water and mud lifting sections of road and partially submerging parked cars, with debris scattered across the carriageway. "The road lifted up, it felt like a real earthquake," one resident wrote on Facebook.
Nice mayor Éric Ciotti said Eau d'Azur crews were fully mobilised to restore service as quickly as possible, with bottled water distributed to affected households in both Nice and La Trinité while repairs were underway. Water supply returned to the Ariane district around 11pm Thursday, though residents in La Trinité waited through the night, with Eau d'Azur confirming the network fully restored and all residents supplied again by 6.30am Friday.
Image by Robert Matthey