Canal Boats Swallowed by Massive Sinkhole in England’s West Midlands
A dramatic canal bank collapse has left several boats teetering on the brink or submerged after a massive sinkhole opened up on the Llangollen canal near Whitchurch,Shropshire. Emergency services declared a major incident early Monday morning, responding to reports of a 50-metre-long crater that rapidly engulfed sections of the waterway.
A 75-year-old man recounted a harrowing escape,waking just in time to raise the alarm as the ground beneath his canal boat gave way. “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,'” he said. “I thought I was in the middle of a big storm. There was the sound of a lot of water.” He described opening the back door to find not rain, but water rushing away from the boat as it began to tilt precariously. “I jumped on the back and stepped off, and that bit was going down at that second. The back went eight foot in the air and I landed on my front.”
The incident, which began around 4:22 a.m. local time, saw three boats initially caught in the developing sinkhole, with crews working to assist over 10 people to safety. According to a statement from shropshire fire and rescue service, firefighters faced “challenging conditions with unstable ground and rapidly moving water,” establishing safety perimeters and working to mitigate the water flow using barge boards and water gate systems.
As of 8:30 a.m. Monday, the situation was reported as stable, with water flow reduced and no ongoing search and rescue operations. Approximately 12 residents from nearby boats have been relocated to a welfare center at the former Whitchurch police station, according to Scott Hurford, the fire service area manager.
The breach occurred near New Mills Lift Bridge on the Llangollen Canal, a waterway that was identified earlier this year by the Inland Waterways Association as an “amber risk” – meaning it is indeed at particular financial and environmental risk. The independent charity has been mapping Britain’s canals and rivers,highlighting those under strain from funding shortfalls and the increasing pressures of climate change. The Midlands region, reliant on higher-ground reservoirs, is especially vulnerable to worsening drought conditions.
The Canal and River Trust, responsible for maintaining 2,000 miles of historic canals and rivers in England and Wales, has launched an investigation into the cause of the collapse and is working with agencies to restore water levels.
A local council member, speaking to the Shropshire Star newspaper, described the scene as “an absolute crater” and ca
Expanded News Report:
Why did it happen? The collapse of the Llangollen Canal bank near Whitchurch, Shropshire, was triggered by a massive sinkhole, approximately 50 meters in length. While the precise cause is under investigation by the Canal and River Trust, contributing factors include the canal’s “amber risk” status – indicating financial and environmental vulnerability – and the increasing pressures of climate change, particularly worsening drought conditions in the region.
Who was affected? The incident directly impacted at least three canal boats, with over 10 people requiring assistance from emergency services. A 75-year-old man narrowly escaped his boat as it began to sink, and approximately 12 residents from nearby boats were relocated to a welfare center. The collapse also affects the wider canal network and leisure users.
What happened? Early Monday morning, a meaningful section of the Llangollen Canal bank gave way, creating a large sinkhole that swallowed portions of the waterway. Emergency services responded to reports of the collapse around 4:22 a.m. local time, working to rescue people from affected boats and stabilize the situation.
