He never noticed the narrow jet of flame until it was too late.
Fire struck the vial, superheating its surface.  The temperature of its contents rose by several thousand degrees.  Pressure build up in the sealed vial with no way to escape, as precious seconds slipped away.
...
An explosion ripped through the Great Temple.  The shockwave sent Makuta midair, sending him tumbling end over end out out sea.

Time Trap, Greg Farshtey, p97, p 99