Monster sinkhole swallows Shanghai road intersection 

A monster sinkhole abruptly swallowed a massive part of a roadway in Shanghai, China as shown in a viral video footage that ignited conspiracy fury as well as skepticism amid the city’s history of similar events.

The sinkhole swallowed a large section of roadway. The collapse reportedly struck at the intersection of Qixin Road and Li'an Road in Shanghai's Minhang District on the morning of February 12. 

It stemmed from a water leak reported the previous day, February 11, during shield tunneling for the new Jiamin Metro Line at the Qixin Road station. 

Contractors from China Railway Tunnel Group were reportedly building the line when groundwater breached the site around 10:30 am on Wednesday (February 11, 2026).

Shanghai Shentie Investment Co., the state-owned project overseer, issued an urgent notice that evening: “Local seepage occurred... emergency response activated, no casualties.”

Roads were sealed off. But the ground gave way overnight. 

By the next morning, a massive sinkhole — spanning dozens of meters and deep enough to swallow a temporary worksite shed, lampposts, and chunks of pavement — opened up. 

Videos show cracks spiderwebbing across the road before the earth buckled, sending dust plumes skyward and workers scrambling.

Local authorities confirmed no injuries or fatalities.

Shanghai Shentong Metro Group told outlets the affected zone was the exact seepage site from the day before, now fully cordoned off for investigation and repair. 

Crews poured concrete to stabilise it, with nearby offices and apartments temporarily evacuated as a precaution.

Shanghai’s vulnerability explains why this hit hard. 

Built on soft Yangtze Delta alluvial soils, the city faces chronic subsidence risks from groundwater extraction, heavy construction, and aging pipes. 

This isn’t the first time here: a similar 10-sqm collapse occurred nearby in August 2023.

Local media covered it promptly. New Beijing News broke details on the "repeated collapse" after seepage. 

Hong Kong's HK01 ran footage of the "heavenly pit". Southern Net reported crews filling the void with cement by evening. 

Even state-affiliated WeChat accounts like “Shanghai Shentie” documented the leak response.

The sinkhole video posted on X by @Currentreport1 matches security camera and bystander footage circulating on Douyin and Weibo. 

On-site reporting from Chinese journalists confirm the event unfolded live 

Shanghai dodged tragedy through quick closures. Repairs are underway, and the metro project presses on. 

These “sudden” sinkholes in a city racing skyward on shaky ground serve as a stark reminder: infrastructure’s speed sometimes outpaces its safety.