A huge hole formed in a garden and partially engulfed the Ford C-Max of a family in Hauts-de-France.
A few days ago, an underground cavity 15 meters deep formed in the garden of a house in Pas-de-Calais. This unexpected hole partially swallowed a car.
A strange hole surprises a family when they wake up
This very clearly looks like a scene from a disaster movie. However, this mysterious hole is very real and it is located Bavincourtsouth of Arras, in the Pas-de-Calais department, according to information from France Blue. On the morning of November 19, 2024, homeowners discovered a huge cavity in their jardin. It measures 15 meters deep to 2.5 meters wide. It formed in just a few hours, probably overnight.
This worrying phenomenon has swallowed up a good part of the family vehiclea Ford C-Max DM2. This minivan was hanging dangerously on the edge of the abyss. Quickly, the firefighters were alerted and had to intervene urgently to secure the area and prevent the car from disappearing entirely into the hole. According to the first elements collected by the competent authorities, this type of hole is clearly not an isolated case in the Hauts-de-France region.
There was a time when this region was intensely exploited for its resources, particularly for chalk. Old ones underground quarries often date back several centuries. With the numerous recent rains, the structures have probably been weakened. This could therefore have accelerated the collapse of the cavity.
A delicate but controlled situation
Moreover, the Hauts-de-France prefecture had warned in an official document that several municipalities in the department are exposed to this type of risks. Unfortunately, these underground voids constitute a real danger. They were mainly left by mining operations or galleries dug during the wars. Fortunately, the rapid intervention of the firefighters made it possible to stabilize the situation.
The Ford C-Max which threatened to fall entirely into the hole was removed from the edge of the precipice. Now local authorities are monitoring the site to prevent further collapse. In addition, geological inspections are planned to assess the condition of the basements in this area. This could mean the house next to the garden and hole could be evacuated depending on the results.
Finally, the inhabitants of the commune were invited to report any anomalyincluding cracks or sagging. This could help prevent a similar chilling incident. Fortunately, it took place at night and no one was injured. However, the feeling of discovering a 15 meter deep hole in your garden must be extremely special.
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