Around 140 people were evacuated on Saturday night at a popular Queensland’s Rainbow Beach camping ground after a giant sink hole opened overnight , swallowing a car, a caravan, a camping trailer and tents.
The sinkhole is now estimated to be 200 metres long. Senior ranger Dan Clifton said there is a possibility the sinkhole could get bigger.
“There is a real possibility the hole could expand with ocean currents, so people are urged to avoid the area,” Mr Clifton said.
Geotechnical engineers have completed an initial assessment and will conduct further inspections on Monday.
The Department of National Parks, Sport and Racing is urging people to avoid the area, observe traffic barriers and warning signs.
Police and SES crews raced to the site, where no one was reported injured or missing.
It’s believed up to 300 people were evacuated from the area and others were warned to pack up and get ready to leave.
The hole could be linked to a number of small earthquakes in the region in recent weeks.
In 2011 a similar sinkhole emerged at the same campsite, again with no injuries.