This is the moment a stunned resident films the huge crater that appeared on one of the main motorways linking the landlocked Brazilian state of Amazonas with the rest of the country following a period of heavy rain.

The huge crack appeared on the BR-319 highway, connecting the city of Manaus, capital of Amazonas State, with the city of Porto Velho in the neighbouring state of Rondonia, both in northern Brazil, on 24th September.

The highway is one of the few land links between Amazonas and other regions in Brazil.

The National Department of Transport Infrastructure (Dnit) confirmed the extensive damage to one of the few paved areas along the 800-kilometre (497-mi) highway.

The local authorities said the huge crack started on the asphalt around a manhole that had eroded during a period of heavy rain, causing a long stretch of road near the municipality of Careiro to collapse.

The incident caused extensive traffic problems, and Dnit announced that work was being carried out to restore traffic along one lane as soon as possible.

Opened in 1976, the BR-319 is the only highway that connects Manaus to Porto Velho and is known for its poor conditions, as only some stretches of the 800-kilometre road are actually paved.

Alternatives to the BR-319 are air travel or a boat trip that takes nearly a week.