WATCH: Residents in shock after sinkhole engulfs street
It seems more and more sinkholes are forming across the globe...
Residents from a village in southeastern England were in shock on Wednesday after a large sinkhole opened along their road and began to expand, forcing evacuations.
The first crater appeared on High Street in Godstone late Monday, growing to over 20 meters in length – roughly the size of a blue whale.
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SCENE: A massive sinkhole prompted evacuations on Tuesday (February 18) in #Godstone, #Surrey, a village near #London. Local media said the sinkhole appeared late on Monday (February 17) and had grown to at least 65 feet (20 meters) by Tuesday afternoon. pic.twitter.com/3sztYp6Zgz
— ShanghaiEye🚀official (@ShanghaiEye) February 19, 2025
A second hole appeared on Wednesday along the same stretch of road, prompting police to cordon off dozens of nearby homes.
LOOK: Hole in Centurion sparks fears of new sinkhole
Families have been evacuated, and the Surrey County Council has declared it a "major incident" although no injuries have been reported.
Aerial footage showed one hole filled with water, while a parked car's back wheels teetered near the edge of the other.
A massive sinkhole in Godstone, Surrey, has expanded, forcing families to evacuate. The hole, first seen Monday night, has grown to 65ft (20m), with a second opening now appearing.
— British Pakistani Index (@PakistaniIndex) February 19, 2025
Surrey County Council has declared a major incident.#Surrey #Sinkhole #Godstone pic.twitter.com/Sy1oUbsa0v
Garage owner Shane Fry's workshop is about 200m from the scene, and he said the first crater "looked like a pond".
"It's been pretty mad, but I'm trying to put my sensible head on," the 34-year-old told AFP.
He was concerned about the effect on his business and urged the authorities to carry out repairs quickly.
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The cause of the collapse is unclear, and officials have called for an investigation.
Theories include heavy traffic, a burst water pipe, and the makeup of the rock beneath the street.
"The site continues to be assessed by structural experts in order to manage the risk and understand what needs to be done to make it safe and repair," Carl Bussey, County Council assistant director, said in a statement.
Major Incident Declared as Sinkhole Develops in Godstone, Surrey https://t.co/Ana1CWR6mI pic.twitter.com/dcdDq79Ktj
— UK News in Pictures(@UKNIP247) (@uknip247) February 18, 2025
Large sinkholes are rare in Britain, where residents often grumble about smaller potholes on their roads.
In Japan, which is blighted by ageing sewer pipes and extreme weather, thousands of sinkholes are reported each year.
Earlier this month, a 40m-wide crater opened near Tokyo, swallowing a truck and its 74-year-old driver, who is believed to have died in the accident.
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Image: X/ Screenshot