Shanghai sinkhole swallows road, many China's cities sinking: Study

In China, a massive sinkhole suddenly opened up on a busy roadway in Shanghai, swallowing a large stretch of the street and sending shockwaves through the area. Security camera footage captured the dramatic moment the ground gave way, with the road surface cracking, sinking inward and collapsing into a deep, hollow void. Bystanders can be seen running to safety as the cavity rapidly expanded, pulling in nearby structures and debris.

Massive Sinkhole suddenly opens, swallowing a large section of roadway in Shanghai, China. pic.twitter.com/w1uC86scoU

— The Spectator Key (@spectatorinde) February 12, 2026

Recently, a study published in the journal Science that found nearly half of China’s major cities are experiencing “moderate to severe” land subsidence. Analysing nationwide satellite data, researchers reported that 45 percent of China’s urban land is sinking faster than 3 millimetres per year, while 16 percent is subsiding at rates exceeding 10 millimetres annually. The study was led by Ao Zurui of South China Normal University.With China's urban population already in excess of 900 million people, "even a small portion of subsiding land in China could therefore translate into a substantial threat to urban life," said the team of researchers.