More than 10 people have been rescued after a huge sinkhole opened in a canal in Shropshire, leaving several narrow boats stranded in the hole or teetering on the edge of a drop.
Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service declared a major incident after the “significant breach” on the Shropshire Union Canal in Chemistry, Whitchurch, on Monday morning.
Three boats were caught up in the developing sinkhole, measuring 50m in length and width, according to the service, which said its officers rescued more than 10 people. Aerial images showed one boat partly hanging over the drop into the hole.
Crews were working in difficult conditions, dealing with unstable ground and fast‑moving water escaping into the surrounding land, said a spokesperson. Meanwhile, safety zones have been opened around the sinkhole, and people have been asked to avoid the area.
The fire service said it was working with West Mercia Police, West Midlands Ambulance Service, the Canal and River Trust and the Environment Agency at the site.
West Mercia Police said in a statement: “There are currently no reports of any casualties, and residents are being assisted by the fire service.”
The Canal and River Trust said it had dammed off the impacted section of the canal, and had closed off the area while an investigation was carried out into the cause of the breach. The trust said it was also providing support to boaters who had been impacted.
Andy Hall, a councillor in Whitchurch, told the BBC that people thought there had been an earthquake. He said: “We’ve got two boats at the bottom of the sinkhole that have fallen down, and we’ve got two boats that are teetering on the edge that could go in at any time.”
He added: “The most important thing is that the canal itself has been secured by fire and rescue. Their biggest worry was that the canal was going to burst even more and flood residents in the town.”
Jason, who works at the nearby Whitchurch Marina, told The Independent that efforts to pull the boats from the sinkhole could be tricky. He said: “The issue is going to be getting the equipment to the site [to remove the boats stranded]. Road access is tricky – a lot of sections of the canal are – so that might be a sticking point.”
The fire service said it first received reports of a canal bank collapse with large volumes of water escaping into the surrounding land.
It said: “Three boats had been caught in a developing sinkhole approximately 50m by 50m in size and crews helped more than 10 members of the public to safety.”
Fire service area manager Scott Hurford said: “We can confirm no persons are believed to be on board the affected canal boats, and no injuries have been reported. Approximately 12 residents from nearby moored boats are being supported and relocated to a welfare centre at the former Whitchurch Police Station.
“A major incident was declared at 5.17am – however, as of 8.30am, the situation was stable with water flow reduced, and there is no ongoing search and rescue activity. Multi-agency attendance remains in place to manage the environmental impact, protect nearby properties, and ensure public safety.”
According to the British Geological Survey, “sinkholes can appear in a variety of different shapes and settings depending on the composition of the rocks and different interacting processes”.
Heavy rain and flooding, as well as building works, changes in water levels and natural weathering processes can all trigger sinkholes.
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