Shropshire Council has reported a ‘major incident’ following the collapse of a local canal bank.
The issue at Shropshire Union Canal this morning saw three boats become ‘caught in a developing sinkhole’ measuring roughly 50 metres by 50 metres, the council confirmed in a statement, which revealed that the collapse caused a significant amount of water to spill onto surrounding land.
Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) were called to the scene and crews assisted over 10 members of the public in returning safely to land.
The local authority said firefighters were navigating ‘challenging conditions with unstable ground and rapidly moving water’, but provided reassurance that crews were able to establish safety sectors and mitigate water flow to restore stability.
Area Manager Scott Hurford commented: ‘We can confirm no persons are believed to be on board the affected canal boats, and no injuries have been reported.
‘Approximately 12 residents from nearby moored boats are being supported and relocated to a welfare centre at the former Whitchurch Police Station.’
While there is ‘no ongoing search and rescue activity’, Mr Hurford said ‘multiagency attendance remains in place to manage the environmental impact, protect nearby properties, and ensure public safety’.
He added: ‘Please avoid the area while we continue to deal with this significant incident.’
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