Updated: The Water Services Corporation this morning admitted that the cave-in of a section of the road in Ghadira this morning was caused by a leakage from a water main.

Part of the road collapsed as a bus heading towards Cirkewwa was driven over it .

The WSC said that unseen flowing water had eroded the material underneath the road surface creating a small cavern that collapsed when the empty bus passed over the area. The bus was stuck in the hole.

The WSC said that while repairs are carried out, the water supply to Ghadira, Armier, Cirkewwa and Marfa have had their water supply suspended. The cut is expected to last until until tomorrow morning.

The North-bound lane was closed and the other side of the road is being used for two-way traffic.

This is believed to have been the third time that the road was damaged by the water main.

It had initially been thought that the collapse today was caused by this morning's heavy downpour, which flooded shops and homes in Xlendi and Fontana in Gozo and created traffic problems all over Malta.

Road were turned into rivers in low lying areas, and traffic confusion was made worse when traffic lights went off in areas such as at Tal-Barrani.

The torrent that flowed down from San Gwann to St Julians pushed bring-in site bins to the middle of the road, creating a traffic jam.

At Naxxar road, Lija, manhole covers were pushed up by the force of the rainwater, and many readers complained of a stench of sewage.