Love Island star Liam Reardon has revealed that the massive sinkhole that appeared in Merthyr was right outside his family home. The 25-year-old has described how he was having breakfast with his dad and sister when the “front wall and gates disappeared into huge sinkhole”.
Speaking on the podcast he fronts with girlfriend Millie, he described how they had to pack a bag and get out as quickly as possible.
The massive 50ft cavity, which increased in size last week, first appeared right outside homes in Nant Morlais on Sunday, December 1. For the latest Welsh news delivered to your inbox sign up to our newsletter
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The local authority previously said the sinkhole was likely caused by the collapse of a culvert after Storm Bert hit south Wales six days earlier. Thirty homes were evacuated and the sinkhole has increased in size. Residents, who have been forced into hotels and Airbnbs, were allowed to return to their properties to retrieve clothing and other items on Monday. Read more about that here.
The sinkhole appeared in front of the bungalow the family were renting -Credit:WALES NEWS SERVICE
Liam said on ‘Liam and Millie’: “I still can’t believe it myself. We recently sold our family home and moved into this home a few months ago. We have been renting. We have a massive 60ft sinkhole on our driveway.
“The day before I had driven over that area where the sinkhole appeared about 11am. The tarmac hadn’t broken at that point Got a call at 2pm that afternoon to say there was a small sinkhole at the end of our drive. From there it got worse and worse We were in the hosue on Sunday morning having breakfast then all of a sudden our front gate and wall disappeared.
“You could hear the thumping of the road disappearing. I was having a cup of coffee, my yoghurt and eggs and everyone was shouting at us to get out. We had to pack and case and just get out.”
He added: “We can’t go back to the house. It has been emptied and apparently it is going to be knocked down. We park our cars where the whole appeared. Thankfully no-one was injured. We need to find a home to move into now.”
Liam said that they are staying in an Airbnb while they work out where they are going to move to.
Millie said that her friends thought she was winding them up when she told them that it was in front of Liam’s house. Join our WhatsApp news community here for the latest breaking news. You will receive updates from us daily.