Shanghai: Security cameras recorded the moment a large sinkhole suddenly opened on a busy road in Shanghai, China, swallowing a significant section of the carriageway and damaging nearby structures. The footage shows the road surface caving in within seconds, leaving behind a deep and wide crater.

Shanghai has long faced risks of land subsidence due to its soft alluvial soil conditions. Experts have attributed such incidents to a combination of factors including excessive groundwater extraction, thin sand layers beneath the surface, underground voids created by construction activity and ageing infrastructure.

These conditions can trigger collapses ranging from small potholes to major sinkholes. The latest incident has renewed concerns about infrastructure safety in densely populated urban areas.

Previous cases highlight similar risks. In January 2024, a road in Shanghai’s Minhang District reportedly sank by about 10 metres following a sewage pipe failure. No casualties were reported in that incident.

Data from 2017 to 2023 indicates that around 72% of sinkholes across China have been linked to human activity, including infrastructure faults and construction-related disturbances. The latest collapse underscores ongoing urban planning and safety challenges in rapidly expanding cities, particularly those built on geologically sensitive terrain.