The pipeline that burst on Wednesday (7) and practically turned SK-477 into a river is already being repaired. On Thursday morning (8) crews from Ceesam (Cooperativa Geradora de Energia Elétrica e Desenvolvimento Santa Maria) were already working on the repair of the structure as well as the highway in Benedito Novo.

Workers repair a broken water pipe in Benedito Novo, in the Itajai Valley. Photo: Moises Stucker/NDTV

In the morning it was possible to observe the movement of workers, as well as vehicles in the area where the rupture occurred. The damage caused by the Ceesam network was recorded by residents in the late afternoon and early evening of Wednesday.

The cooperative said in a statement that the incident took place in a tunnel window on the highway. Despite the panic, neither houses in the area nor even vehicles moving along the highway were damaged.

Workers repair a burst water pipe in Benedito Novo, in the Itajai Valley – Video: Moisés Stuker/NDTV