Major incident declared over giant sinkhole at canal in Shropshire (2) (UK) 22/Dec/2025

x2 reports. A major incident has been declared at a Shropshire canal where a giant hole has emerged, with boats either stricken in the cavity or left teetering on the edge of the drop.

Pictures appear to show that the structural integrity of a stretch of waterway in Whitchurch has given way, raising flooding fears.

Two narrowboats at the scene were said to have sunk into the hole shortly after 04:00 GMT, with one witness estimating it to be 15ft (four metres) deep. Water looks to have drained away completely.

Fifty firefighters were deployed to the scene. There are no reports of casualties, according to police.

The Canal and River Trust has blamed the issue on what it described as an "embankment failure".

Scott Hurford, area manager at Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service said crews received reports at about 04:20 that a canal bank had collapsed - and that there were large volumes of water in surrounding fields.

People who live on boats near to where the incident unfolded said they were first alerted to a problem by unusual noises, with some in the area fearing an earthquake, according to one report.

The sounds became so bad that people knew to flee their vessels, a witness told the BBC.

West Mercia Police has asked people to avoid the scene, located in an area of Whitchurch called Chemistry.

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Other sinkhole reports (many most likely) are on this channel, see playlist.