Council Leader Reports Continued Growth of Large Sinkhole

The leader of a local council has stated that a substantial sinkhole, which necessitated the evacuation of over 30 residences, continues to expand. The cavity appeared on Sunday morning at Nant Morlais in Pant, Merthyr Tydfil. On Monday, council leader Brent Carter reported that “more cracks are coming across the road and into walls and gardens.” He estimated its dimensions to be “probably 30-40ft (9-12m) deep and five metres (16ft) wide.” Simon Williams, whose family owns the bungalow at the site of the sinkhole’s emergence, indicated that residents of the cul-de-sac might not be able to return home for several months. He expressed feeling “desperately sorry for all the residents who’ve had to get out of their homes just before Christmas.” South Wales Police, along with the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service and Merthyr Tydfil council, were notified about the event only days after Storm Bert had led to widespread flooding throughout Wales. Mr. Carter attributed the issue to two landslides, stating: “A couple of residents heard a loud bang. “Unfortunately, it wasn’t reported, so we couldn’t do anything immediately, but that looks like that’s what caused the collapse, when everything came down from the mountain and washed through the culvert.” He further stated that the council intends to “move heaven and Earth” to prevent a recurrence of the incident. He explained, “The culvert is checked every two years. It’s just the way that Storm Bert has come down and washed everything down with such ferocity, it’s caused structural damage to the arch and that’s what’s brought the collapse.” He was unable to provide a specific date for residents’ return home, noting that the council had arranged hotel accommodation for those unable to stay with friends or relatives. Mr. Williams conveyed that he and his wife were devastated by the event but expressed greater concern for their friends who currently reside in the affected house. He described it as “frightening to think what could have happened when they were reversing their cars off the drive,” adding, “They could have been injured or worse.” Mr. Williams reported that they first became aware of the sinkhole on Saturday evening, at which point it measured approximately one foot (0.3m) in width. He added, “To be honest, we wondered if the bungalow would still be standing this morning [Monday], but it’s still standing at the moment.” Callum Morgan stated that he and his partner, Niamh, who is a tenant at the property, had been staying in an Airbnb since Sunday night and anticipated remaining there for several days. He recounted, “Brick by brick she said she could see the driveway going under slowly, and at one point we thought it was going to go up to the house, but at the moment it looks like it’s stopped.” John Mitchell, a 76-year-old resident whose home is situated near the sinkhole’s edge, recounted his alarming experience of returning to find it barricaded. He added that “the hole just gradually got worse and worse as it was opening up,” and stated, “I couldn’t see down to the bottom, but it was a good depth, it was really quite deep.” Andrew Farrant, a geologist with the British Geological Survey (BGS), suggested that the sinkhole probably originated from a collapsed culvert and recent heavy rainfall, as opposed to a natural geological phenomenon. He emphasized that it was “not just a case of filling the hole.” He clarified that the necessary repairs would entail stabilizing the void, excavating the area, and reinstating the culvert to guarantee the safe flow of the stream. Councillor David Hughes commended residents for vacating their homes “without any fuss or bother” and noted the arrival of an excavator and four lorries laden with boulders at the site on Monday morning, prepared for the commencement of work. Although any substantial cavity that forms in the ground is commonly referred to as a sinkhole, this general term does not always provide an accurate description. The British Geological Survey (BGS) defines a sinkhole as “a natural surface depression caused by dissolution of soluble rocks at depth.” The BGS stated that while sinkholes can result from gradual underground dissolution, they can also be triggered by heavy rain or surface flooding, construction activities, leaking drainage pipes, burst water mains, and groundwater abstraction. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external sites. Information regarding their approach to external linking is available.