Enormous sinkhole opens up in the middle of a shopping centre carpark - and experts don't know why
- Massive sinkhole suddenly emerges in the car park of Stockland Baldivis in Perth
- Section of damaged car park will remain closed while investigation takes place
- Locals claim the 20 metres wide and two metres deep hole has since worsened
- Local MP urged residents to be patient and support businesses in the complex
A massive sinkhole has forced the closure of a busy shopping car park amid growing fears the hole will continue to worsen.
Shocked shoppers arrived at Stockland Baldivis in Perth's south on Saturday morning to find the southern car park cordoned off after the hole almost 20 metres wide and two metres deep suddenly emerged overnight.
No customers were in the area at the time and no other property was damaged.
A massive sinkhole has turned the southern carpark of Stockland Baldivis into a no-go zone
Just metres away from the shopping centre entrance, the damaged section of the car park will remain closed until further notice.
'The centre is undertaking a full investigation with engineers, working in conjunction with local authorities,' Stockland Baldivis posted on its Facebook page.
'The southern part of the car park will be closed during the investigation and remedial works will be undertaken to rectify the issue. The safety of our customers and retailers remains our first priority.'
The shopping centre remains open for business.
Shop owners and shoppers keeping a vigilant eye on the sinkhole believed it has grown since Saturday morning.
'It's definitely been sinking more and more,' one shop owner told the ABC.
Julie Owen added: 'It'd be nice for them to let us know what's going on, what the assessment found, what's causing the problem and are we all at risk. Without knowing what's going on underneath the ground, anything's possible.'
The sinkhole is almost 20 metres wide and two metres deep and locals fears it will grow
Other concerned locals said they would stay clear of the centre until there was more reassurance.
'Too bad the section of the centre that is very close sinkhole is still allowed to be open, which is creeping up. Won't be surprised if that part of the center gets swallowed up. Pathetic all for the sake of a greedy dollar,' a person commented on the centre's page.
Another added: 'If people are wise they'll avoid the place. I wouldn't want to be in there with my kids if anything else collapsed. If that has happened who knows what's next.'
State Baldivis MP Reece Whitby said he'd been told by centre management that the sinkhole appears to be caused by the collapse of a stormwater detention system under the carpark.
Michael Hill Jewellers at Stockland Baldivis saw the funny side about the sinkhole situation
'I have been assured that Stocklands has engineers working along with local authorities as quickly as possible to repair the issue and reopen the carpark,' Mr Whitby posted on Facebook.
'In the meantime, customers are requested to please be patient with the inconvenience and continue to support our local traders in the centre.'
Amid fears traders in the centre were losing customers, one business showed a sense of humour about the situation.
'Our prices are sinking,' a sign outside Michael Hill Jewellers states.
'The southern part of the carpark will be closed during the investigation and remedial works will be undertaken to rectify the issue,' the shopping centre posted on Facebook
