Residents of Nant-Morle village in Panti, South Wales, encountered an unexpected and alarming situation: a giant karst funnel about 15 meters deep appeared in the middle of one of the roads. The incident that occurred on November 30 caused the evacuation of 30 homes and caused panic among the locals.
At first, on Saturday, a small crack appeared on the road. By Sunday morning, it turned into a huge pit, absorbing part of the road and the access track of one of the houses. According to 55-year-old resident of Stephen Rigan, the situation looked frightening. "I heard everything collapsing. It was very scary," he said.
The local authorities suggest that the cause of the funnel was the collapse of the water pipe. The situation was complicated by the Bert storm, which brought heavy rains and floods that contributed to the expansion of the funnel. According to witnesses, the water at the bottom of the pit is constantly wash the soil, accelerating the destruction. The scene was surrounded, the road was closed for traffic, and evacuated residents were temporarily placed in safe places. Police, fire and rescue services and representatives of the Midir Tidfil Council work on the spot. Engineers evaluate the extent of destruction and develop a plan of action to prevent further disasters. The authorities urge the locals to stay away from the area and not approach the pit. "Safety remains our main priority," local police representatives emphasized.
It is not yet clear when evacuated will be able to return to their homes. Engineers are working on risk assessment and development of soil stabilization ways. At the same time, the fear of possible new collapses is stored, especially among elderly residents.
For the Nant Morle, this incident was a reminder of how natural phenomena and human infrastructure can create potentially dangerous situations. The authorities continue to follow the situation, calling for caution.
