Mega Sinkhole Grows Larger, Devours Surrey Street
EDDIE MITCHELL
A major incident has been declared in Surrey, UK, following the appearance of a massive sinkhole on Godstone High Street. The original hole first emerged late Monday night and had grown to at least 65 feet (20 meters) by Tuesday lunchtime. A second opening has now appeared nearby, with a car precariously balancing on its edge.
Local residents have been evacuated from their homes due to concerns over potential explosions caused by exposed cables beneath the street. One resident described the area as sounding like “a waterfall” due to the sinkhole’s presence directly outside her home.
Noosh Miri and her family were among those displaced when police knocked on doors, instructing them to leave urgently. Within 10 minutes of receiving this news, they had packed their belongings and found temporary accommodation through insurance coverage. Miri expressed that it could be several months before she can return home.
When speaking with Radio 5 Live, Ms Miri added: “Our house is not secure at all. We don’t know the extent of the damage yet, but we won’t be going back for a while.”
The evacuated properties were built about three years ago on former sand quarry land, and there are also reports that caves exist beneath the area.
Pete Burgess from the Wealden Cave and Mines Society noted that a “sand pit” marked on 19th-century maps of land directly under the sinkhole indicates historical mining activity. Additionally, experts suggest that heavy vehicles passing by might contribute to this unusual geological event.
Seven miles of tunnels lie beneath Godstone, according to Surrey Hills Society’s information. Ms Miri hypothesized a combination of factors could be responsible for the formation of the sinkhole C it wasn’t simply due to mining caves or lorries.
The operation is now managed by the Surrey Local Resilience Forum with support from Tandridge District Council and Surrey County Council (SCC). SCC’s assistant director for safer communities, Carl Bussey, stated that residents within a 30-property cordon are being supported in finding temporary accommodation. Additionally, he highlighted that properties in the wider area have access to water and power as usual.
More permanent repairs will be conducted once deemed safe by authorities. The Environment Agency confirmed no evidence of pollution caused by the hole at this time.
The exact cause remains unclear, but experts from British Geological Survey (BGS) believe a burst water main could have led to its formation due to weak sandstone bedrock beneath Godstone Village. If there was an influx of water, it might have flushed out the unstable rock leading to collapse.
While local mining activities and quarries are mentioned as potential concerns, they seem unlikely to be directly responsible for this incident. BGS suggests that either uncharted mines or a cave roof collapse could also contribute to such events.
The situation continues with investigations ongoing, aiming to make the area safe and repair utilities accordingly. Businesses like Godstone Pharmacy have been forced to operate under reduced conditions, making deliveries by foot due to the widespread closure of shops and streets in the region.
