UK embankment collapse mistaken for earthquake or sinkhole - several boats trapped in drained canal
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A major incident was declared on December 22, just before Christmas eve in Shropshire, UK, after a canal collapse suddenly drained a section of the Shropshire Union Canal and sent several narrowboats plunging into a deep cavity, prompting emergency evacuations and widespread confusion among residents who initially believed an earthquake had struck.
Witnesses reported a violent crash and shaking, followed by the sound of rushing water. Some residents told local media it felt “like an earthquake” as the embankment gave way beneath the canal.
According to the BBC, engineers from the Canal & River Trust say the collapse along a section of the Llangollen Canal in Whitchurch was caused by an “embankment failure,” which sent water surging into a nearby field and left the canal bed stripped away, exposing a deep trench.
According to Yahoo News, Emergency services rescued more than 10 people from boats caught in the breach, including two vessels that were swallowed by the hole and others left teetering on the edge of the drop. No injuries have been reported, but at least 14 residents were evacuated from their homes on the waterway.
The Daily Telegraph, referring to British state media, said around 50 firefighters responded, evacuating up to 15 people from their boats.
Drone images released by Shropshire Fire and Rescue show a dramatic scene: a gaping cavity where the canal once flowed, boats lying on the exposed canal bed, and water flooding into adjacent fields.
The Daily Telegraph quoted the UNN Twitter, which stated the hole that opened up was 50 by 50 metres. (164 - 164 feet)