A sinkhole about 50m by 50m opened in the Shropshire Union Canal at Whitchurch, trapping two canal boats and tilting a third. A major incident was declared at 5:17 a.m.; emergency crews later described the situation as stable after search-and-rescue operations ended. No injuries were reported and more than 10 people were brought to safety. The Canal & River Trust has dammed the affected section and is investigating the cause.
Massive 50m Sinkhole Opens in Shropshire Canal, Swallowing Boats and Sparking Major Rescue
A sinkhole has developed in a canal in the county of Shropshire, England, prompting rescue operations. - Andy Kelvin/PA via AP
A large sinkhole has opened in the Shropshire Union Canal at Whitchurch, England, leaving two canal boats embedded in deep mud and a third tilting on the edge. Authorities declared a major incident in the early hours before later reporting the situation as stable.
What Happened
Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service released an image showing two narrowboats trapped inside a crater roughly 50 metres by 50 metres (about 2,500 m² or approximately 27,000 ft²), while another vessel leans toward the sinkhole’s slope. The incident was described by emergency crews as a "significant breach" of the canal at Whitchurch, a historic market town near the Welsh border.
Rescue Response and Safety
A major incident was declared at 5:17 a.m.; search-and-rescue teams worked in challenging conditions of unstable ground and rapidly moving water. Area Manager Scott Hurford later said the situation had stabilised and that search-and-rescue activity has concluded. No injuries have been reported and no one is believed to have been aboard the affected boats.
Canal boats lie damaged after a sinkhole developed in Shropshire, England, on December 22, 2025. - Andy Kelvin/PA via AP
Crews were able to bring more than 10 members of the public to safety, although authorities provided no additional details about those individuals. Emergency services have asked the public to avoid the area while operations continue.
Investigation and Canal Response
The Canal & River Trust — the UK’s largest canal charity — said teams were on site, had dammed off the affected section of canal, and were carrying out initial investigations into the cause of the breach. "The priority is the safety of boaters and those in the immediate area," the trust said in a statement, adding that further updates will be provided in due course.
Image credit: Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service
Local authorities and waterway managers will likely undertake geotechnical assessments and repairs to stabilise the bank and restore navigation. Officials have asked residents and visitors to heed safety warnings and keep clear of the scene while investigations proceed.
