Growing Sinkhole Forces 30 Families to Evacuate in South Wales

The massive sinkhole in Merthyr Tydfil, believed to be caused by a collapsed culvert, has left residents uncertain about returning home before Christmas.

A sinkhole measuring up to 60 feet deep and 16 feet wide opened in Nant Morlais, Pant, Merthyr Tydfil, prompting the evacuation of 30 homes on Sunday morning.
The collapse of a culvert, exacerbated by heavy rainfall and two recent landslides, is believed to have caused the sinkhole, which continues to expand with visible cracks in nearby roads and walls.
Residents have been temporarily relocated to hotels, Airbnbs, or with family, as local authorities prioritize safety and begin remediation efforts with steel reinforcements and boulders to stabilize the area.
Merthyr Tydfil council leaders have expressed hope that displaced families might return home by Christmas, though no definitive timeline has been provided due to ongoing inspections and repairs.
The sinkhole highlights concerns about infrastructure resilience, with calls for more frequent inspections of culverts in the area to prevent similar incidents in the future.