Key Lessons for Municipalities on Sinkhole / Collapse Events (2023–2025)2025• 24 Sep – Bangkok, Thailand: Massive sinkhole (~50 m deep, 90...
Published on by Hossein Ataei Far, Deputy Manager of the Research, Technology Development, and Industry Relations Center at NWWEC
2025
• 24 Sep – Bangkok, Thailand: Massive sinkhole (~50 m deep, 900 m²) near Vajira Hospital; utilities cut, vehicles damaged, evacuations ordered; linked to MRT tunneling.
• 25 Mar – Seoul, South Korea: Tunnel collapse created 20 m deep sinkhole; motorcyclist killed, nearby vehicle narrowly avoided falling.
• Jan – Yashio, Japan: 10 × 10 m sinkhole from sewer rupture; truck trapped, driver rescued after 2 days; evacuations ordered.
• Sep – Laredo, Texas, USA: 36-inch water line break triggered street sinkhole; flooding, 1 home evacuated; repairs ongoing.
2024
• 23 Aug – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: 8 m sinkhole on Jalan Masjid India; tourist disappeared; caused by sewer rupture.
• Mid-2024 – Alton, Illinois, USA: 100 ft wide, 30 ft deep soccer field sinkhole above limestone mine; no injuries.
• 21 Jun – Chengdu, China: Metro construction collapse, water pipes burst; no casualties.
• 19 Aug – Monroe, Connecticut, USA: Floodwaters caused roadway collapse at Lake Zoar; venue evacuated.
• Oct – Florida, USA: Hurricane triggered multiple sinkholes in Polk & Hillsborough Counties; alerts issued.
2023
• May – Amersham, UK: 5 m deep, 6 m wide sinkhole near Shardeloes Lake, linked to tunnel works; later backfilled.
• Sep – Western Sweden (E6 Highway): Landslide-triggered sinkhole destroyed ~500 m of highway; vehicles crashed, 3 injured.
• Other smaller sinkholes occurred globally in parking lots and urban areas but were often underreported.
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Key Lessons for Municipalities
1. Early Detection – LiDAR, GPR, and InSAR can identify voids before collapse.
2. Infrastructure Care – Leaking pipes and poor drainage are major triggers; proactive rehabilitation is essential.
3. Geology in Planning – Avoid heavy loads and construction in karst-prone areas.
4. Emergency Readiness – Rapid evacuation, traffic rerouting, and utility cutoffs reduce impacts.
5. Climate Factor – Extreme weather increases sinkhole risk.
6. Public Awareness – Clear reporting and communication build community resilience.
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📌 Takeaway: Sinkholes are recurring urban hazards. Proactive monitoring, asset management, and adaptive planning reduce risks to people, infrastructure, and economies.