Godstone: A massive sinkhole has emerged in the southern English village of Godstone, swallowing at least one garden and prompting authorities to evacuate residents from approximately 30 homes. The incident, which began on Monday, rapidly expanded, reaching a width of at least 20 meters by Tuesday. Local authorities have declared it a major incident as they work to assess the damage and ensure public safety.
The affected properties, built roughly three years ago on the site of a former sand quarry, have raised concerns about the stability of the ground. One of the evacuees, Noosh Miri, described the terrifying moment authorities ordered them to leave.
“We got a violent knocking on the door,” Miri said. “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 his distress after his garden was swallowed by the sinkhole.
“It’s collapsed, the wall will come down, for sure… we’re terrified,” Mira told the BBC.
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Surrey County Council (SCC) confirmed that investigations into the cause of the sinkhole were ongoing. Officials urged the public to avoid the area while emergency response teams carried out their work.
“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,” said Carl Bussey from SCC.
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Adding to the disruption, SES Water reported a burst water main pipe in Godstone High Street early Tuesday. By Wednesday, the company confirmed that water supplies had been restored to affected properties. Electricity services have also been reinstated.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, while displaced residents await further updates on when they might be able to return home.
