Busy Shanghai road caves in

A dramatic CCTV video showing a busy road in Shanghai suddenly caving in has gone viral on social media, triggering concern among residents.
The incident occurred on a stretch where construction work had been under way. The footage shows the road surface slowly cracking in front of workers before collapsing into a massive sinkhole within seconds. Construction materials stacked at the site were seen plunging into the crater.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported in the incident. However, nearby buildings sustained minor structural damage, according to local reports. Authorities cordoned off the area and launched an inspection to assess the stability of surrounding structures.
Urban experts note that such sinkholes are not uncommon in Shanghai, citing the city’s soft alluvial soil, continuous groundwater extraction and rapid urban construction as contributing factors. In a similar incident in January 2024, a burst sewer pipeline in the Minhang district led to a road sinking by nearly 10 metres, disrupting traffic and prompting emergency repairs.