Dozens of cars stuck in ice after floodwater freezes

A bizarre utilities failure has resulted in more than a dozen vehicles likely being written off in the US, after a water main burst in freezing weather.

This week, a 54-inch (137cm) water main in Southwest Detroit broke, flooding the area with thousands of litres of water.

While the break was subsequently isolated, the water which had already leaked out froze in the sub-zero temperatures, trapping vehicles which were parked in the street overnight.

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Footage uploaded to Reddit shows dozens of cars in one street partially under the ice, with many commenters pointing out there was likely still dangerously cold water under the surface.

Given the sheer volume of water, it’s likely most of the vehicles involved will need major repairs at a minimum, or could be totally written off.

According to Fox 2 Detroit, about 400 homes were immediately impacted by the floods, with about 190 of those having suffered flooded basements.