Residents of the central Greece village of Fytia, in the regional unit of Aitoloakarnania, were startled on Tuesday morning when a massive sinkhole appeared just meters from their homes.
The hole, measuring approximately eight meters deep and six meters wide, opened suddenly during the night. At first, villagers believed an earthquake had struck, but upon closer inspection they discovered the gaping void in the ground near the main road.
Experts from the Hellenic Authority for Geological & Mining Research (EAGME), who arrived on site to investigate, said the phenomenon is known as land subsidence: a sudden collapse of the ground into an underground cavity. Such incidents are often caused by the movement or removal of subsurface materials, excessive groundwater extraction, underground mining, or natural soil compaction.
Flooding in Aitoloakarnania on October 2, 2025. Photo: Eurokinissi
Preliminary assessments suggest the sinkhole may have been triggered by recent heavy rainfall that saturated and destabilized the soil.
“The recent rains likely played a key role in the collapse,” said one of the EAGME geologists, noting that further analysis is underway to determine the exact cause.
According to locals, this is not the first such incident in the region. A neighboring village reportedly experienced a similar case of ground subsidence in previous years, raising concerns about the area’s geological stability.
EAGME officials said a detailed report is expected in the coming days once their field studies are completed.
