Residents of a village in England faced evacuation as a significant sinkhole engulfed portions of the main street, coming perilously close to several residences.

Local authorities in Surrey identified the situation as a major incident on Tuesday after the sinkhole appeared on Godstone High Street, situated roughly 20 miles (32 kilometers) south of London.

Concerns over a potential gas leak prompted the evacuation of individuals from around 30 different buildings, as officials feared that the ground collapse could break gas lines and lead to an explosion. In addition, a water main broke beneath the street, resulting in disrupted water supply to nearby homes.

“It’s an absolute nightmare. Dreadful,” expressed Tracey Jones, who was concerned for her daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter, all of whom were evacuated due to the incident.

SES Water announced that water services were partially restored to residents by Wednesday, though the situation remains precarious.