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New sinkhole find: Croxley Green homes evacuated | |
(35 minutes later) | |
A house and three flats were evacuated on Sunday night after another sinkhole appeared in Hertfordshire. | A house and three flats were evacuated on Sunday night after another sinkhole appeared in Hertfordshire. |
The hole was found in a back garden in Croxley Green, near Rickmansworth. | The hole was found in a back garden in Croxley Green, near Rickmansworth. |
The sinkhole is about 5ft (1.5m) by 5ft (1.5m) and 20ft (6m) deep. Residents were allowed back into their homes in the cul-de-sac on Monday. | |
On Saturday, 17 homes were evacuated in Hemel Hempstead as a sinkhole about 35ft (9m) wide and 20ft (6m) deep opened up in Oatridge Gardens. | On Saturday, 17 homes were evacuated in Hemel Hempstead as a sinkhole about 35ft (9m) wide and 20ft (6m) deep opened up in Oatridge Gardens. |
Dr Vanessa Banks, of the British Geological Society, said heavy rain had led to a rise in sinkhole numbers. | Dr Vanessa Banks, of the British Geological Society, said heavy rain had led to a rise in sinkhole numbers. |
'We are stuck' | |
Max Green, who lives in a flat in Oatridge Gardens, said it was a "bit of a shock" to be told about what happened on Saturday morning. | Max Green, who lives in a flat in Oatridge Gardens, said it was a "bit of a shock" to be told about what happened on Saturday morning. |
"At the moment we are stuck," he said. | "At the moment we are stuck," he said. |
"The road is closed, we can walk out a side gate, but can't get out by car. I think we'll be stuck for a couple of days." | "The road is closed, we can walk out a side gate, but can't get out by car. I think we'll be stuck for a couple of days." |
Mr Green said the hole opened up in the front garden of one of the houses that fronts on to the main road. | Mr Green said the hole opened up in the front garden of one of the houses that fronts on to the main road. |
"When I looked out of the window... all I could see were lots of police and gas engineers," he said. | "When I looked out of the window... all I could see were lots of police and gas engineers," he said. |
"They were worried it could have caused damage to the gas pipes." | "They were worried it could have caused damage to the gas pipes." |
Rob Wheatley, who also lives nearby, said he believed the house on the corner, near where the hole had opened up in Oatridge Gardens, would have to be demolished. | |
"A tree has also fallen in to it," he said. | "A tree has also fallen in to it," he said. |
Dr Banks said: "Sinkholes have not been caused by the weather, they are triggered by the weather. | Dr Banks said: "Sinkholes have not been caused by the weather, they are triggered by the weather. |
"The cause is the existence of a cavity at depth, be it artificial or natural. The trigger is water passing through the ground." | |