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Sinkhole swallows vehicles in popular Australian beach

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​A huge sinkhole at a popular camping spot near Queensland's Rainbow Beach swallowed several vehicles including cars, caravans, tents and camper trailers.

The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services (QPWS) said the sinkhole is about 3m deep.

The Guardian reported the sinkhole to be about 100m long and 100m wide, which means the hole is about the size of a football field.

 

 

 

About 300 people have been evacuated from the beachside campsite.

One of the campers, Mr Casey hughes, told ABC news at the site that the sinkhole "sounded like a thunder noise" when the beach began to cave in and open up.

Ms Sylvia Murray, another camper, said: "People were basically on the edge of it with their van, trying to madly get their vans out."

 

 

 

Ms Melanie Wotherspoon, who was also camping at the site, said: 'I thought we were goners for sure, was truly scary how fast it came into our campsite and swallowed it up."

Fortunately, there were no casualties and no injuries have been reported either.

A senior ranger Dan Clifton said: "There is a real possibility the hole could expand with ocean currents, so people are urged to avoid the area.

"While we continue to assess the situation, our priority is public safety," he said.

Sources: The Guardian, ABC News

 

UncategorisedAustraliacamping