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Dramatic aerial footage has revealed inside a massive 50ft sinkhole which opened up on a quiet residential street and forced dozens of people from their homes.
People are being urged to stay away after the huge cavity appeared at Nant Morlais in Pant, Merthyr, with council officers and police on the site working with other agencies.
Now new images have shown just how vast the problem has become, with residents still being kept back from their homes today.
Reports suggested the first signs of the sinkhole emerged on Saturday afternoon, measuring a couple of feet, before a significant collapse by the following morning.
There had been heavy rain in parts of Wales overnight, just days after Storm Bert caused devastation across much of the country.
Local councillor David Hughes told the BBC there was believed to have been the collapse of a culvert, a structure which lets water flow below roads.
Mr Hughes said residents of Nant Morlais – which has about 30 homes – have been evacuated.
The cul-de-sac has been closed and people are being advised to avoid the area – as local householders told of their fears they could lose their homes as the impact unfolded.
Dramatic aerial footage has revealed inside a massive 50ft sinkhole which has opened up on a quiet residential street in Merthyr, south Wales
People are being urged to stay away after the huge hole appeared at Nant Morlais in Pant
Local councillor David Hughes has spoken about the apparent collapse of a culvert, a structure which allows water to flow underneath roads
Pictures show a huge hole that opened up in a garden on Nant Morlais in Merthyr, as well as a smaller hole and cracks in the road.
The area around the sinkhole has been cordoned off and the street remained closed, while it remained unclear for how long the evacuation of the road and its homes would last.
One local told how a drone had been flown over the sinkhole, as the sound of debris falling through a fast-flowing stream could be heard.
Stephen Regan, 55, who moved into his property there a year ago, told the BBC: ‘It was very scary – you could hear it rumbling and collapsing when it was happening.
‘I just want to get back in the house but we don’t know what the situation is at the moment.
‘My fear is my house could go. I’ve never seen anything like this in my life.’
Mr Regan guessed that the sinkhole’s depth could be up to 60ft, adding: ‘The culvert has collapsed and water has just washed it all away.
‘It’s an older generation on this street so they are scared.”
Pictures show a huge hole that opened up in a garden on Nant Morlais in Merthyr, as well as a smaller hole and cracks in the road
The area around the sinkhole has been cordoned off and the street remained closed
The emergence of the sinkhole comes amid heavy rain in parts of Wales, just days after Storm Bert caused devastation across much of the country
One local told how a drone had been flown over the sinkhole, as the sound of debris falling through a fast-flowing stream could be heard
Merthyr Council issued a warning to locals, saying: ‘To allow engineers to keep working safely, please stay away from the area’
One local estimated that the depth of the sinkhole could be up to 60ft
Stephen Regan, 55, who moved into his property there a year ago, told the BBC: ‘It was very scary – you could hear it rumbling and collapsing when it was happening’
Mr Regan added: ‘I just want to get back in the house but we don’t know what the situation is at the moment’
The cul-de-sac has been closed and people are being advised to avoid the area – as local householders told of their fears they could lose their homes as the sinkhole spread
South Wales Police said the affected road had been closed in both directions
Merthyr Tydfil council leader Brent Carter has urged people to avoid the area as work continues
The huge sinkhole appeared in the garden of a home in Nant Morlais in Merthyr, south Wales
Other parts of the road have cracks and smaller holes which open up into the ground
A statement from Merthyr Council said: ‘No further help or support is needed at this time but thank you to everyone who has offered it. Safety is our main priority.’
But council leader Brent Carter also issued a warning, saying: ‘To allow engineers to keep working safely, please stay away from the area.’
A police statement said: ‘South Wales Police are dealing with a incident on Nant Morlais, Pant, Merthyr.
‘The road is currently closed in both directions. Please avoid the area.’