In the village of Godstone in Surrey, residents were forced to evacuate after two sinkholes emerged this week, stretching across significant portions of the high street. The initial hole made its appearance late on Monday night and had expanded to at least 65ft (20m) by Tuesday afternoon. Sinkholes, though not uncommon in the UK, have the potential to suddenly manifest, leaving many questioning the causes and implications of such geological phenomena.
A sinkhole refers to a depression on the surface caused by the collapse of underlying rock. These formations can take on different shapes, from saucer-like depressions to deeper shafts. In built-up areas, sinkholes may appear irregular due to the distortions from structures like roads above. In the case of Godstone, the collapsed ground lies beneath a road, somewhat concealing the true extent of the depression.
Sinkholes can manifest for various reasons, often attributed to geological factors, but human influences can also play a part. One common cause involves the breakdown of rocks such as limestone or chalk, where carbon dioxide from the air combines with rainwater to form carbonic acid, dissolving the rock over time. Human activities can accelerate sinkhole formation as well, with some experts suggesting that the situation in Godstone may have been triggered by a burst water main, leading to the sudden displacement of sandstone.
The UK sees its fair share of sinkholes due to the prevalence of limestone, chalk, and past mining activities. Vanessa Banks, a specialist in shallow geohazards at the British Geological Survey, notes that sinkholes occur in clusters, with many going unrecorded in remote regions. Extreme weather events, like heavy rainfall, can exacerbate the conditions that lead to sinkholes. Past incidents, such as the evacuation of 30 homes in Merthyr Tydfil and multiple sinkholes appearing in south-east England following intense storms in 2014, underscore the ongoing risks posed by sinkholes in the UK
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