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Massive sinkhole in St Albans street could take weeks to repair Lorries arrive to fill in St Albans sinkhole
(about 4 hours later)
People living in a street in St Albans, in which a massive sinkhole has opened up, have been told it could take weeks to repair the road. The first of dozens of lorries carrying quick-drying cement have arrived to start filling in a giant sinkhole in a residential street in St Albans.
The 66ft (20m) diameter hole spread across a front garden and driveway on Fontmell Close and is 33ft (10m) deep. The 66ft (20m) diameter hole is spread across driveways and front gardens in Fontmell Close and is 33ft (10m) deep.
Experts at the British Geological Survey said it was most likely to have been caused by the collapse of a previously unrecorded mine. Experts believe the sinkhole, which has left 50 homes without power, was caused by the collapse of a unrecorded mine.
More than 50 homes were left without power after the hole appeared. Five homes were evacuated in the early hours of Thursday after residents heard a crash and the hole appeared.
Hertfordshire County Council said five homes were evacuated in the early hours of Thursday morning and 20 people were taken to a centre set up at the nearby Batchwood Sports Centre.
Residents are said to have heard a crash before the huge crater appeared.
St Albans' sinkhole: Latest updatesSt Albans' sinkhole: Latest updates
A spokesman for the fire service said it was previously aware of a small hole that was due to be filled in. A small hole in the footpath was cordoned off last week, but Hertfordshire County Council said there was "no reason to suspect that the hole would collapse".
Firefighters received a call at 01:30 BST on Thursday to say the hole had "opened up substantially" overnight. One local resident told the BBC his wife had previously seen a postman fall in the smaller hole and he had looked "quite badly injured".
A Hertfordshire County Council spokesman said: "We were informed about a hole in the footpath last week. It was inspected and barriers put around it on Monday. Search for mines
"Work was scheduled to fill it in. Following our inspection, there was no reason to suspect that the hole would collapse." Residents have been told it could take weeks to repair the road.
Resident Gemma Bagshaw said she was woken by the sound of the hole opening up. What causes a sinkhole?
The heavily pregnant 32-year-old and her husband Ben left their house clutching her medical notes and a bag packed in readiness for a trip to hospital. The British Geological Survey says there are several different types of sinkhole, sometimes known as "dolines".
"We were asleep when we were awoken by this awful rumbling sound like an earthquake," she said. The BBC reporter at the scene, Ben Ando, said the cement will gradually be poured into the hole to stabilise it.
"Ben jumped out of bed and got to the window, then I heard him say 'The road has gone'. The material is also designed to expand in the ground, filling any voids.
"If this doesn't bring on my labour then nothing will." He added it will take at least until the middle of next week to complete the initial fill work before utilities can be reconnected.
Engineers said on Thursday afternoon there was still evidence that the ground was moving, several hours after the primary collapse.
Families affected are being helped by the district council. Most are now staying with relatives, though nine people were put up last night in a hotel.
Students at the University of Hertfordshire are beginning to source old maps to find any ancient or extinct mine workings that may be responsible for the hole.
The university said such maps may also give a clue as to other areas at risk.