CCTV captures massive Shanghai sinkhole swallowing busy road in seconds | watch

Massive sinkhole swallows busy Shanghai road, no casualties reported

• A massive sinkhole swallowed part of a road in Shanghai's Minhang District
• No injuries reported after the collapse near Jiamin Metro Line construction site
• Experts link sinkholes to water leaks, soft soils, and construction activity

Did our AI summary help?

In Shanghai’s Minhang District, a routine Wednesday turned shocking when a massive sinkhole suddenly opened at the junction of Qixin Road and Li’an Road, swallowing a large section of the road and parts of nearby structures. CCTV footage captured cracks spreading across the tarmac before the ground collapsed within seconds.

The incident occurred on 11 February 2026, a day after workers noticed a water leak during excavation for the Jiamin Metro Line. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

“CCTV cameras recorded the exact moment a large sinkhole suddenly opened on a busy road in Shanghai, China, swallowing a huge section of the carriageway and damaging nearby structures. The scary footage shows the road surface caving in within moments, leaving behind a deep and wide crater,” officials said.

Experts explained that sinkholes in urban areas like Shanghai often form differently from the classic karst type. “Here, erosion happens through suffosion: flowing water washes away fine particles like sand and silt, leaving gaps that grow until the surface gives way,” they said.

A sudden rush of water, such as from a burst pipe or leak, can accelerate the process, flushing out supporting material and triggering a collapse. The latest sinkhole is part of a wider pattern of urban subsidence in the city, caused by soft alluvial soils, excessive groundwater extraction, thin sand layers, and underground voids created by construction activity. Past incidents have reinforced these risks.

In January 2024, a road in the same district reportedly sank about 10 metres after a sewage pipe failure, though no casualties occurred. Data from 2017‑2023 indicates that nearly 72% of sinkholes across China are linked to human activity, including infrastructure faults and construction disturbances.

“The incident reportedly triggered by a technical failure at a nearby subway construction site highlights ongoing urban planning and safety challenges in rapidly expanding cities,” experts said.

The dramatic footage and repeated collapses underline the importance of stricter monitoring and maintenance of infrastructure in geologically sensitive areas, particularly in fast-growing urban hubs like Shanghai.