UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Over 10 people were rescued after a huge sinkhole opened in the Whitchurch Canal, Shropshire, leaving boats stranded as emergency teams responded to the scene.
As reported by Harry Cockburn of The Independent, a major sinkhole in a Shropshire canal prompted the rescue of more than 10 people, with several narrowboats at risk of falling.
How did emergency teams respond to the major sinkhole in the Whitchurch Canal?
Emergency services first received reports of a canal bank breach at 4:22 AM in the Chemistry area of Whitchurch, Shropshire, along the Shropshire Union Canal in UK. A major incident was officially declared shortly after, at 5:17 AM.
Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service said,
“Three boats had been caught in a developing sinkhole approximately 50 metres by 50 metres in size and crews helped more than 10 members of the public to safety.”
They stated,
“Firefighters have been working in challenging conditions with unstable ground and rapidly moving water, crews immediately established upstream and downstream safety sectors and began mitigating water flow using barge boards and water gate systems.”
According to the service, three boats were caught in a 50m by 50m sinkhole, with more than 10 people rescued, while one boat hung precariously over the edge.
Emergency teams faced challenging conditions, with unstable ground and rushing water, while safety zones were set up and people were advised to avoid the area.
The fire service said it was working alongside West Mercia Police, West Midlands Ambulance Service, the Canal and River Trust, and the Environment Agency.
West Mercia Police said in a statement,
“There are currently no reports of any casualties, and residents are being assisted by the fire service.”
Fire service area manager Scott Hurford stated,
“We can confirm no persons are believed to be on board the affected canal boats, and no injuries have been reported. Approximately 12 residents from nearby moored boats are being supported and relocated to a welfare centre at the former Whitchurch Police Station.”
He added,
“A major incident was declared at 5.17am – however, as of 8.30am the situation was stable with water flow reduced, and there is no ongoing search and rescue activity. Multiagency attendance remains in place to manage the environmental impact, protect nearby properties, and ensure public safety.”
The Canal and River Trust confirmed they had dammed off the damaged section of the canal and restricted access during an investigation, while assisting affected boaters.
What did local councillors say about the Whitchurch canal sinkhole?
At the scene, Sho Abdul, a councillor and Shropshire County Council cabinet member, said,
“There are three or four canal boats that have been impacted by the sinkhole which rapidly happened. The lack of casualties is an absolute miracle.”
He added,
“We were so shocked when we saw it. It’s an absolute crater, it’s devastating, especially for the people who use this area often. It’s sad, with Christmas just around the corner, but more importantly no one was hurt.”
Andy Hall, a Whitchurch councillor, said residents initially feared an earthquake had occurred.
He stated,
“We’ve got two boats at the bottom of the sink hole that have fallen down, and we’ve got two boats that are teetering on the edge that could go in at any time.”
Mr Hall said,
“The most important thing is that the canal itself has been secured by fire and rescue. Their biggest worry was that the canal was going to burst even more and flood residents in the town.”
He continued,
“There’s one teetering on the edge and could slide down at any time. More has fallen away since we’ve been here this morning. The fire and rescue teams have been all over it. Their biggest worry this morning was making sure everyone was safe and off their boats.”
What did the boat owner and Whitchurch Marina staff say about the canal sinkhole?
At around 4 am on Monday, 75-year-old Bob Wood’s boat began sinking into a hole on the Llangollen Canal in Whitchurch. He said he heard only the sound of rushing water before jumping to safety.
Mr Wood, an eight-year resident on the boat, had only recently moored at the location. He described waking up and fleeing the vessel as it was pulled into the giant hole
He stated,
“I was in the boat asleep and I thought I needed to go to the toilet so I got up and thought ‘we are leaning a bit.’ I thought I was in the middle of a big storm, there was the sound of a lot of water.”
Mr Wood said,
“I opened the back door to see why we were tilting and realised it was not raining at all and it was the water running away under the boat. I jumped on the back and stepped off and that bit was going down at that second. The back went 8ft in the air and I landed on my front.”
He said he rushed to the adjacent boat and knocked on it to alert the occupants.
Mr Wood added,
“He got out really quickly and his boat went down as well. My boat went nose down and his went stern first.”
Jason, an employee at the nearby Whitchurch Marina, removing the boats from the sinkhole could prove challenging.
He added,
“The issue is going to be getting the equipment to the site [to remove the boats stranded]. Road access is tricky – a lot of sections of the canal are – so that might be a sticking point.”
What can trigger sinkholes?
Sinkholes are primarily triggered by the movement or absence of water, which destabilizes the ground above underground cavities.
Heavy rain and flooding can cause sinkholes by increasing water pressure and adding weight that causes underground cavities to cave in.
Sinkholes can also be triggered by drought and seasonal fluctuations, which reduce water support or stress soil layers until they collapse.
Human activities, such as leaking pipes, burst water mains, and excessive groundwater pumping, can cause sinkholes by eroding soil and removing underground support.
