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Giant Sinkhole Swallows Boats, Prompts Rescues in British Canal
WHITCHURCH, SHROPSHIRE – A massive sinkhole in the Shropshire Union Canal in England caused a dramatic scene early Monday, swallowing multiple boats and prompting the rescue of over 10 individuals, according to local authorities. The startling event occurred near the Welsh border in Chemistry, Whitchurch.
The sinkhole, reportedly a staggering 164 feet long and wide, left three boats stranded deep within its maw, with an additional vessel precariously teetering on the edge, as confirmed by the Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service. Thankfully, no injuries have been reported, and residents are receiving assistance from the fire service, stated West Mercia Police.
The Canal and River Trust swiftly responded to the incident, damming off the affected section of the canal and closing the area to the public. The trust is also providing support to the impacted boaters.
Andy Hall, a Whitchurch council member, described the scene to the BBC, noting that many initially believed an earthquake had struck. “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,” Hall explained.
He emphasized that securing the canal was paramount, with a primary concern being a potential burst that could flood nearby residents. Indeed, water from the canal has already inundated an adjacent piece of land.
Among those affected was 75-year-old Bob Wood, who was asleep on his boat when the ground gave way. Wood recounted to The Guardian how he awoke to the sensation of his boat leaning and the sound of rushing water, initially believing he was in a storm.
Upon investigating, he realized the water was escaping beneath his vessel. “I jumped on the back and stepped off, and that bit was going down at that second,” Wood said, describing how the back of his boat dramatically rose eight feet into the air.
Wood, who has called his boat home for eight years, had moored it just the previous night. He watched helplessly as his boat plunged nose-first into the abyss Monday morning. He also noted that his neighbor narrowly escaped their vessel before it too disappeared backward into the hole.
This incident highlights the growing strain on Britain’s canal and river infrastructure, which faces challenges from both funding shortfalls and the increasing pressures of climate change.