A gigantic sinkhole has appeared in south Wales, causing police to evacuate more than 30 homes due to safety concerns.
Just after midday on Sunday morning, the enormous 50ft hole was spotted at Nant Morlais in Pant. Officers and council workers were deployed to the scene to asses the situation and work with other people to get residents a safe distance away.
A statement from Merthyr Council said: “No further help or support is needed at this time but thank you to everyone who has offered it. Safety is our main priority.” They also issued a warning saying: “To allow engineers to keep working safely, please stay away from the area.” The situation was made more complex by a road traffic collision in the area. Nearby Cardiff Road was closed in both directions between McDonald’s roundabout and Dinas Powys, with motorists advised to avoid the area and use another route.
The sinkhole is said to be around 40 and 50 feet deep and is believed to have started because of a culvert under the road. A large cordon hs been put in place by police.
Teams of engineers and the emergency services have been at the scene throughout the day and a photographer at the scene managed to capture the sheer size of the hole from aerial shots, WalesOnline reports.
People living in the nearby cul-de-sac have been evacuated and were told they won’t be able to get back to their homes tonight. There was heavy rain in parts of Wales overnight, just days after heavy rain from Storm Bert caused devastation across parts of the country.
It is expected to get a bit better tomorrow, with just “scattered showers” being reported by the weather service. People still aren’t sure how long the area will be closed for and the homes evacuated. It is reported that the first signs of the sinkhole started appearing on Saturday afternoon.
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It is understood that around 30 homes have been evacuated as emergency services work at the scene, with local councillor David Hughes telling the BBC it was believed a culvert had collapsed.
Mr Hughes said residents of Nant Morlais – about 30 homes – have been evacuated. The cul-de-sac has been closed and people are being advised to avoid the area. They are urging people to stay away from the area.
A statement said: “South Wales Police are dealing with a incident on Nant Morlais, Pant, Merthyr. The road is currently closed in both directions. Please avoid the area.”
A local resident said that a drone had been flown over the hole and they estimated the depth at 40 to 50ft. He says you can hear very large falls of debris into what sounds like a fast-flowing stream.
