Three manhole covers were blown off a road in the Osaka area on June 26, 2026, by a powerful underground water jet [1].
The incident highlights the vulnerability of urban drainage systems during extreme weather events, as the force of the eruption damaged public infrastructure and nearby vehicles.
Intense rainfall from a double-typhoon system caused water pressure to build up rapidly within the underground drainage network [2]. This pressure eventually forced the heavy covers from their frames, sending a column of water erupting into the street [1, 2].
The eruption shattered the surrounding asphalt and threw stones onto nearby vehicles [1]. Local reports said that the rainfall reached 76 mm within a single hour [2].
There are conflicting reports regarding the exact location of the incident. Some reports place the event on a road in Higashi-Osaka [2], while others identify the site as being in Osaka-city Ikuno-ku [1]. Both locations are within the Kansai region of Japan.
Emergency crews responded to the scene to secure the area and address the damaged pavement. The simultaneous loss of three covers [1] created a significant hazard for motorists and pedestrians in the immediate vicinity. Authorities have not yet released a full assessment of the vehicle damage or the total cost of the infrastructure repairs.
“Three manhole covers were blown off a road in the Osaka area”
This event demonstrates the increasing risk of 'urban flash flooding' and infrastructure failure as double-typhoon systems create rainfall volumes that exceed the design capacity of city drainage. When underground pressure exceeds the weight of manhole covers, the resulting 'geysers' can turn heavy iron and asphalt into projectiles, shifting the risk from simple flooding to active structural hazards.
