Massive sinkhole appears in street in Godstone | Global News Avenue

The family has described the “terror” evacuation as a massive sewage puddle on the street, cutting off water supply and swallowing the gardens of at least one property.

The hole first appeared on Monday night on Godstone High Street in Surrey and grew to at least 65 feet (20m) by lunch time Tuesday.

Shortly after 00:30 GMT on Tuesday, police told people living in William Way, Godstone to “get out as soon as possible” because people were concerned about the explosion caused by exposed cables.

A resident who moved less than a week ago said he was forced to sleep in his car while another resident returned to find his back garden falling into a hole.

Police said the road closure will last for some time and confirmed that the evacuation of a few buildings is a preventive measure.

A Surrey Expressway spokesperson advised people to avoid the area.

Rez Mira and his family had to leave his home in the early hours of Tuesday morning and stay with relatives.

He came back and found his garden falling into a sewage puddle.

“It collapses and the walls will definitely fall,” he said.

“We’re just scared. We have to figure out where we live now. The school is going back next week and we have to find it somewhere nearby.”

Ses Water said it was known early Tuesday morning that an outbreak water supervisor at Godstone High Street affected water supply to homes in the area.

A company spokesman said the team has been deployed for emergency work.

Robin Sherry said police told him and his family to “get out as quickly as possible” and worry about the explosion caused by the exposed cable.

“I booked a hotel on the way, but I know some people stayed in the car and some went to the family,” he said.

Local resident Paul Whelan described the speed of the sewage puddle development after the image was originally posted on social media at around 23:00 on Monday.

He told BBC Surrey Radio. “Now, it has grown a lot after the explosion water supervisor.”

Josh Neame lived in his property for only six days when he was evacuated and slept all night in the local green car.

“They let me in now – I have a bag of toiletries, pants and socks on my shoulders to get me through it,” he said.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen here, nobody can give me any information. They say it may only be a week before I can come back. I don’t think they know the state of the gas power supply and the electrical comes in, so it’s a risk of explosion, fire, collapse.

“My life is still in the box and I haven’t even unpacked the house from moving.

“Not what you want on Monday night.”

Surrey County Council Highway Cabinet Member Matt Furniss said on GMT Tuesday at 09:30 that the hole had grown to 65 feet (20m) and 20 feet (6m).

“At this stage, we are working with utilities. At the moment, our main purpose is to ensure the website and be safe,” he said.