Shocking Video Shows Moments Before Massive Sinkhole Swallows Road in Shanghai | Watch

A dramatic CCTV video from Shanghai has shocked viewers after it captured a massive sinkhole suddenly opening up on a busy road. In the footage, the asphalt gives way within seconds, pulling down a large stretch of the roadway and nearby structures into a deep, gaping pit.

The visuals show how quickly the collapse unfolded, leaving behind a huge void and triggering panic over urban safety. Thankfully, no casualties have been reported in this incident so far, but the scale of destruction has sparked widespread concern.

Experts say such incidents are not uncommon in Shanghai due to its fragile ground conditions. The city is built on soft alluvial soil, which is prone to subsidence. Factors like excessive groundwater extraction, thin sand layers beneath roads, and underground voids created during construction significantly increase the risk of collapses.




This is not an isolated case. In January 2024, a road in Minhang District reportedly sank nearly 10 metres after a sewage pipeline failed. While no one was injured, the incident exposed serious gaps in infrastructure monitoring and maintenance.

Data from 2017 to 2023 further underlines the issue. Nearly 72% of sinkholes reported across China during this period were linked to human activity, including construction flaws, aging pipelines, and poor urban planning rather than natural causes.

The latest video has once again brought attention to the challenges faced by rapidly expanding cities. As urban development accelerates, experts stress the need for stronger infrastructure checks, better construction practices, and long-term planning to prevent such dangerous incidents in the future.