Jerusalem sinkhole may be linked to tunnel construction

8 June 2021


An enormous sinkhole which opened up in a Jerusalem hospital car park and completely swallowed-up three cars in just 15 seconds may have been caused by nearby tunnelling.

The disaster, captured by hospital CCTV, occurred on Monday 7 June at the city’s Shaare Zedek Medical Centre. According to The Times of Israel, medical centre director Dr Ofer Martin said that the sinkhole appeared to have been caused by the digging of a tunnel for Highway 16.

Local media reported that the tunnel, which runs very close to the hospital and its car park, had suffered a partial collapse. The Ministry of Jerusalem and Heritage is currently investigating whether there is a link between the sinkhole and the digging of the tunnel.

Police later confirmed there were no injuries resulting from the incident and cordoned-off the hospital vicinity, declaring it a ‘danger zone’.