A main sewer line has collapsed in Auckland, leaving a massive sinkhole, and residents are being warned to not swim at all inner-city beaches.
Watercare said the sinkhole was 13 metres deep on a private property on St Georges Bay Road in Parnell.
It is the third sinkhole to appear in the city in recent months.
Watercare chief operations officer Mark Bourne said a wastewater pipe at the top of the Orakei Main Sewer burst, causing the hole.
They were alerted to the sinkhole on Monday afternoon.
"Our crews worked until early this morning, removing material to strategically widen the tomo, stabilising the ground and preventing further material entering the pipe," Bourne said.
"Unfortunately, the situation has worsened with the sewer becoming completely blocked this morning, which may be causing overflows elsewhere in the network."
The sewer services large parts of central and West Auckland.
"Our crews on site are currently working with a large excavator to further widen the top of the tomo to remove the debris causing the blockage," Bourne said.
"Safety is our number one priority. The ground near the tomo is unstable so we have established an exclusion zone around the site to ensure the safety of the public, staff and contractors."
He said Watercare was working hard to confirm sewage overflow locations and to minimise any environmental impact.
Auckland residents were being asked not to swim at any inner-city beaches.
"As we haven't yet been able to confirm overflow locations, we have raised black water quality pins on Safeswim and are urging Aucklanders to avoid swimming, fishing and recreational activity in the Waitemata Harbour," Bourne said.
"Warning signs are currently being erected at all inner-city beaches."
He said once the sewer blockage has been cleared, wastewater will be able to flow through the pipe again and it could be repaired.
Bourne said advice from geotechnical engineers will guide its approach for repairs.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/498871/sewer-line-collapse-causes-13m-deep-sinkhole-in-auckland-s-parnell