SINKHOLES NOW OPENING UP ALL OVER BRITAIN - EXTREMELY WET WEATHER TO BLAME?

Terrifying sinkholes are appearing at five times their normal rate, and further bad weather could mean we haven't seen the last of them

• Sinkholes seen in Kent, South-East London and Hemel Hempstead
• One in High Wycombe engulfed a car as it was parked in the driveway
• Expert believes sinkholes are appearing five times their normal rate
• Forecast heavy rain could mean more holes appear around the country

Strictly speaking not all the big holes that have been appearing are sinkholes. Technically, a sinkhole is a hole that opens up when the surface layers collapse into a naturally made cavity. When the surface layers collapse into a cavity made by man  — and at least two of the recent holes are in areas where mining has been carried out in the past — then it should be called a dene or crown hole.

 

But given that both types are caused by a collapse into an underground cavity and the end result — a large, potentially dangerous hole in the ground at the surface — is the same, for the sake of simplicity, let us call them all sinkholes.

 

Certainly, anyone suffering the tragedy of having their house fall into one won’t be worrying about the difference. Fatalities caused by sinkholes in this country are thankfully very rare.

 

Read more and see pictures of sinkholes  -

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2560892/Terrifying-holes-opening-Britain-How-sinkholes-appearing-five-times-normal-rate-bad-weather-mean-havent-seen-them.html


RELATED

Dramatic photos of sinkholes all over the United States
http://countdowntozerotime.org/2013/03/02/americas-deadly-phenomenon-the-sinkholes-that-have-swallowed-homes-cars-and-businesses-across-the-country/

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