Abstract: Water burst events are the chief disasters encountered during tunnel excavation. The progress of re? search on water burst in deep-buried tunnels by hydrofracturing theory is briefly introduced. In light of the mechanism of hydraulic fracturing, the role of multi-physics coupling should be considered in study of water burst disasters. Based on Biot's consolidation theory, the concept of damage is applied, and the dynamic evolution of rock mass permeability is considered. The possibility of a water burst can be assessed by analyzing permeability change as a result of changes to rock's mechanical conditions during advance of the working face. The results show that rock mass damage and failure induces permeability change, which makes way for a water burst and increases its possibility. A strong permeable zone, like the fractured zone, is a precondition of a water burst, and a high hydraulic gradient is the original source of a water burst.