During the afternoon of September 24, a massive sinkhole opened on Samsen Road in Bangkok, Thailand, swallowing parts of a busy four-lane street. The collapse created a roughly 50-meter (160-foot) cavity, downing power lines and exposing a burst pipe that released a stream of water. Officials reported no injuries.
Given the infrastructure collapse, a nearby hospital announced it would suspend outpatient services for two days. Three vehicles were also reported to be damaged. Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt stated that the incident may have been caused by ongoing construction at a nearby underground station.
Sinkholes, whether caused by human activity or natural processes, occur when the land surface collapses into less stable underground cavities. They are typically formed through erosion driven by groundwater, a process that can take thousands of years before resulting in a sudden collapse. In some cases, sinkholes have revealed remarkable discoveries—both on land and underwater.
Click through to explore some of the surprising findings uncovered in sinkholes.