GODSTONE, England — A massive sinkhole has appeared in the village of Godstone, Surrey, swallowing parts of a garden and forcing the evacuation of around 30 homes. The sinkhole, which first opened on Monday (Feb 17), had grown to approximately 20 meters by Tuesday. Local authorities have declared it a major incident, urging residents to avoid the area as emergency teams work to assess the situation.

The affected properties were built just three years ago on the site of a former sand quarry. One resident, Noosh Miri, recalled the terrifying moment her family had to evacuate: "We got a violent knocking on the door. When I opened it, it sounded like I was standing next to a waterfall—the sinkhole was right in front of our doorstep." Another resident, Rez Mira, saw his garden collapse into the sinkhole. "It's gone, and the wall will come down for sure… we're terrified," he told the BBC.

Surrey County Council (SCC) is leading the response, with experts investigating the cause of the collapse. Residents affected by the evacuation are being provided with assistance, including accommodation support. "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 SCC's Carl Bussey.

In addition to the sinkhole, a burst water main in Godstone High Street was reported early Tuesday. SES Water confirmed that repairs were completed by Wednesday, restoring water supply to affected homes. Electricity has also been restored. Authorities remain on high alert, closely monitoring the stability of the surrounding area. Residents have been urged to stay away until further notice, as emergency teams work to secure the site and prevent further damage.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.