£4M Sinkhole Nightmare: Residents Evacuated, Homes Saved in Dramatic Rescue

In October 2025, a massive sinkhole opened up in the town of Merthyr Tydfil in south Wales, forcing the evacuation of around 30 homes. The sinkhole, measuring 33 feet wide and 45 feet deep, was described as the "biggest engineering job in south Wales" this year.

The sinkhole first appeared on December 1st, 2024, just a week after Storm Bert hit the region. Authorities believe a landslide further up the valley washed a large amount of debris through a 1910-era culvert, causing the collapse. The culvert, which was originally built with bricks and stone, had been showing its age.

The repair effort has been a complex and technically demanding challenge, costing over £4 million. Over 300 tons of concrete and 3,000 tons of stone have been used to fill the massive hole. Project managers had to construct a metal box inside the sinkhole to secure the area and allow workers to safely operate.

Among the residents affected was the family of reality TV star Liam Reardon, who described the experience as "strange, unusual, crazy." Luckily, the team was able to save the homes, including that of the resident who had moved their car off the driveway just two hours before the sinkhole appeared.

After nearly 12 months of work, the repair project is now nearing completion. Merthyr Tydfil Council has expressed confidence that the remaining work will be finished by mid-November 2025, bringing an end to this major engineering challenge.