Monster Sinkhole Engulfs Residential Street, Front Lawn

Locals said they heard a roaring crash during the night.

Residents of a neighborhood St. Albans, England, were evacuated from their homes on Thursday after an enormous sinkhole on their street swallowed a stretch of road and a front lawn.

Officials measured the gaping crater at approximately 66 feet in diameter and 33 feet deep, according to the BBC. Residents said they heard a roaring crash as the road collapsed during the night.

John Hudnott, watch commander for the Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, said that a small hole had appeared in the road several days earlier, but officials did not expect the large sinkhole to appear, The Guardian reports.

Open Image Modal
The sinkhole, viewed from above.
NBC News

“I have absolutely no idea how long it’s going to take to get the power back on," Hudnott told The Guardian. "We thought it was the water leak but now we’re not so sure.”  

Ten people from five different homes were forced to leave and spend the night in a nightclub serving as an evacuation center.

Nobody was injured and no homes were damaged, but it's not clear when the residents will be able to return to their homes, according to The Telegraph. 

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