Four killed by ‘massive sinkhole’ in China

Four people have been confirmed dead, after a footpath in the Chinese city of Dazhou gave way, sending them plunging more than 10 metres below street level.

The sinkhole opened suddenly in a “busy commercial district in Dazhou city in Sichuan province” on Sunday afternoon, the South China Morning Post reports, leaving a gaping hole more than three metres in diameter.

Video footage of the incident shows four people falling into the sinkhole as the footpath collapses rapidly beneath their feet.

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Two of the victims, who were married just days before the accident, were recovered alive from the sinkhole shortly after it opened up, but died later in hospital, according to CNN.

The bodies of two further victims, reported to be a father and son, were removed from the 10-metre pit 48 hours after the footpath collapsed, despite desperate attempts by local rescuers to find the pair.

A number of surrounding buildings have been evacuated, after officials feared that the sinkhole may widen in the coming days, Chinanews reports.