Overview

• A 65-foot-long sinkhole appeared on Godstone High Street on Monday, followed by a second, smaller sinkhole nearby on Wednesday.
• Authorities evacuated 30 properties and established a 100-meter safety cordon due to risks of further collapse and exposed utility cables.
• Geologists suggest the sinkholes were likely caused by a burst water main eroding weak sandstone bedrock, compounded by the area's landslip-prone geology.
• Historical sand mines near the site may have contributed to the instability, though no definitive records confirm mines directly beneath the sinkhole.
• Repair timelines remain uncertain, with significant challenges posed by the sinkholes' size and proximity to critical infrastructure.