Sydney: Building’s evacuation due to a huge sinkhole close to the construction of M6 tunnel

A sinkhole formed beneath the Rockdale building in the city's southern area, near Sydney's M6, on Friday 1^st of March 2024. Twenty firefighters quickly responded and assisted 20 people to evacuate the building as it sank in the middle due to the ground beneath giving way.

The building is close to the M6 tunnel project in the city's south, and thus it raised concerns for the workers. Fortunately, no one was inside the building when the incident occurred. Firefighters investigated the site with the aid of laser monitoring gear and drones to identify any additional motion in the impacted structure.

NSW Premier Chris Minns stated that further investigation about the cause of the collapse is needed, to determine if the incident is related to the construction of the M6 tunnel. Minns emphasized the project's challenge in this location due to the fact that the tunnel is only 16 meters deep. This depth is closer to the surface compared to other sections that could be as deep as 60 meters underground.

Experts from FRNSW are collaborating with the government and industry counterparts to assess the collapse's extent and determine its cause. Engineers are formulating a strategy to strengthen the building. In all, an exclusion zone has been defined, while people are advised to avoid the surrounding area. Nevertheless, all roads and sidewalks in the area remain accessible.