In Godstone, England, a sizable sinkhole has emerged, engulfing a garden and prompting the evacuation of residents from approximately 30 homes. This incident in the village of Godstone in Surrey unfolded on Monday and expanded to around 20 meters by Tuesday, leading local agencies to classify it as a major event.
According to the BBC, the evacuated homes were constructed on the grounds of a former sand quarry about three years ago. Noosh Miri, a resident evacuated from the area, described the experience: "We got a violent knocking on the door. As I opened the door, it sounded like I was in a waterfall because the sinkhole was right in front of my doorstep."
Another resident, Rez Mira, shared with the BBC that his garden collapsed into the sinkhole, expressing fear over the situation: "It's collapsed, the wall will come down, for sure…we're terrified."
Surrey County Council (SCC) stated that investigations were ongoing, urging people to avoid the affected area during the ongoing efforts. The council is providing support and guidance to the residents within the designated area.
SCC's Carl Bussey emphasized, "The Local Resilience Forum will continue to meet throughout this incident to ensure everything is being done to resolve the situation as quickly and safely as possible."
SES Water reported detecting a burst water main pipe in Godstone High Street in the early hours of Tuesday. By Wednesday, the water supply to the affected properties had been reinstated, and electricity services had also been restored.