Shoppers at a busy mall in Chengdu were left stunned after a ceiling pipe suddenly burst, spraying large amounts of thick black liquid throughout a retail outlet and triggering speculation online that a sewage pipe had exploded.
The incident occurred on the evening of May 24 at Longhu Jinnan Paradise Walk in Chengdu’s Wuhou District, Sichuan Province.
Videos circulating on social media showed black liquid gushing from a ceiling pipe and pouring into a shop below, sending customers and staff scrambling for safety as the unexpected downpour flooded parts of the premises.
The dramatic footage quickly sparked online discussion, with some social media users joking that shoppers had been caught beneath a burst sewage pipe. However, witnesses at the scene claimed the liquid did not emit any foul odour commonly associated with sewage.
Mall management later clarified that the incident was not related to a toilet or wastewater system.
According to staff members, the leak was caused by a ruptured fire protection pipeline. The dark-coloured liquid was identified as stagnant water mixed with accumulated rust and sediment that had built up inside the pipe over time.
Authorities said property management teams responded immediately after the pipe burst and carried out emergency repair works.
Officials confirmed that only one retail outlet was affected by the incident and that repair work has since been completed.
The local fire department also verified that the black liquid consisted of rust, mud and sediment deposits from the damaged fire suppression system, dismissing rumours that it involved sewage.
The exact cause of the pipeline failure remains under investigation, with authorities expected to release further findings once inspections are completed.
Despite the alarming scenes, no injuries were reported during the incident.
