A 50-meter sinkhole opened under a canal in Shropshire, draining water and prompting evacuations, but no one was hurt.

A major incident was declared in Whitchurch, Shropshire, on December 22, 2025, after a 50-meter-wide sinkhole opened beneath the Shropshire Union Canal, causing a section of the waterway to collapse and drain. Emergency services responded around 4:22 a.m., securing the area, relocating 12 residents, and preventing injuries. No casualties were reported, and the situation was stabilized by 8:30 a.m. The Canal & River Trust closed the affected stretch, and a multi-agency team continues assessing the site. The cause is under investigation, with possible links to subsidence or weakened underground structures.