A massive sinkhole has opened up on the main street of a village in England, swallowing parts of the road and two residential buildings. Surrey County officials have declared a major incident as experts try to shore up the area and figure out how to repair the damage.
The sinkhole, which is located on Godstone High Street, was caused by a burst water main that washed away soil beneath the road. Structural experts are working to keep people and property safe while also repairing the damage.
Residents of 30 buildings were evacuated due to fears of gas pipe rupture and explosion. Homes in the area lost their water supply for over a day. The village is home to a series of caves left from a former stone quarry, but officials say they were not near the collapse site.
An expert in geology said that the local sand geology and former land use may have contributed to the sinkhole’s formation. He noted that sand can be weak when it becomes wet, particularly under pressure. SES Water has restored water to residents, but has not commented on the cause of the break or the sinkhole.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/sinkhole-england-britain-uk-godstone-a94cf70b6e8110fe4a1204a738e60400