Sinkhole scare: Mysterious giant crater emerges in Siberian village

A fresh giant crater has appeared in Siberia's Novokuznetsk region. Measuring 20 meters in diameter and up to 30 meters in depth, the hole is unnerving the local population, who fear the next one might swallow their homes.

The mysterious sinkhole was first spotted by Rinat Sharifullin, a local man whose house is a mere 100 meters away from where it emerged. He blames the sagging of earth into abandoned mine tunnels snaking beneath the ground in the area.

Whatever the cause, such craters always appear in groups, says professor Vasily Bogoyavlensky from the Moscow State University of Oil and Gas. "I would compare them to mushrooms. If you find one, you will most likely discover a dozen more nearby."

Geologists say similar craters in the past could have caused the formation of a number of lakes in Siberia's Yamal peninsula .... http://rt.com