New sinkhole forms overnight in Lyttelton
Residents have been advised to avoid Burger Street as a new sinkhole formed overnight, crossing the road.
Residents are advised to avoid Burger Street in Lyttelton as a large sinkhole formed on Saturday, August 5.
On Saturday night, a series of images were shared on social media showing how a hole in Burger Street became a large sinkhole extending across the road by Sunday morning.
On Sunday, it appeared as though at least two properties were affected as the sinkhole spread toward the houses.
Images from the scene show the sinkhole extending down the driveway, collapsing part of the nearby property’s boundary wall.
Ward 57 councillor David Farquharson told Rekord that emergency services had cordoned off the scene.
He said that officials were already arranging to cut water supply as the sinkhole filled with water from a water pipe.
“Disaster management will be of the scene shortly,” said Farquharson.
Farquharson advised residents to avoid the area.
DETAILS LIMITED AT THIS STAGE
It is not yet clear where the sinkhole will settle or the extent of the damage to the affected properties.
Meanwhile, Lyttelton resident Juan-Michael Fernandez said that the sinkhole initially appeared to be a minor one but had grown dramatically overnight.
Fernandez has tracked sinkholes in Centurion and has kept a record of various sinkholes in the region.
He said the rapid growth of the sinkhole could indicate the potential for the hole to continue growing.
Geoscience development council manager Willem Meintjies previously said that Centurion is highly susceptible to sinkholes since it is underlain by dolomitic rock.
This type of sedimentary rock is like limestone and can dissolve and be broken down by acidic water.
According to Meintjies, sinkholes are often triggered by concentrated bodies of water seeping into the ground (ingress), or large-scale groundwater abstraction, sometimes called dewatering.
He said that in Centurion, research has shown that most cases arise due to the ingress of water from leaking infrastructure or stormwater.
Measures could be taken to reduce the occurrence of sinkholes and affected areas can be repaired
Despite this Meintjies said that the occurrence of sinkholes was not easily predictable.
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