© English Russia/ExclusivePixThe city of Samara in Russia appears to be sinking into the earth, as massive sinkholes open up swallowing cars and wreaking havoc
Citizens of Samara, in south east Russia, live in fear of the ground literally disappearing beneath them after huge sinkholes have started to appear all over their city, leaving devastation in their wake.
The yawning underground caverns are all believed to have sprung up in recent weeks swallowing cars, buses and claiming at least one life.
© ExclusivePixThe sinkholes, some large enough to swallow an entire truck, are believed to have opened up as the Russian winter subsides
© ExclusivePixThere has reportedly been at least one fatality as a result of the sinkholes in the city, Russia's sixth largest
It is thought the holes have been caused as ice thaws and melts into the ground, with the excess water causing soil decay underneath Samara's roads.
The massive craters have appeared in car parks, busy intersections, by the sides of roads, and on major and minor thoroughfares.
© ExclusivePixThe gaping craters have baffled residents who now live in daily fear of the ground literally swallowing them
© ExclusivePixDozens of the massive craters, have appeared at random in recent weeks, reportedly as the winter thaws leaving the ground soaked with water
© ExclusivePixThese pictures are all believed to have been taken in recent weeks as the ground decays beneath the city's infrastructure
© ExclusivePixSinkholes are common hazards in mining regions, plaguing areas where miners have burrowed into layers of soluble minerals and accidental floods have followed
The citizens of the city have now signed a petition urging authorities to find a solution.
Sinkholes are common hazards in mining regions, plaguing areas where miners have burrowed into layers of soluble minerals and accidental floods have followed.
But natural sinkholes can take thousands of years to form and vary in size.
They are usually the result of what are known as Karst processes, which occur when a layer of rock such as limestone underneath the ground is dissolved by acidic water.
Typically rainfall seeps through the soil, absorbing carbon dioxide and reacting with decaying vegetation. As a result, the water that reaches the soluble rock is acidic.
© ExclusivePixThe problem is thought to be causing carnage across the city. Now residents have organised a petition to urge authorities to find a solution
© ExclusivePixThe collapse of the surface above a sinkhole can happen suddenly or over a few hours. Heavy rainfall or poor drainage systems can trigger a collapse
Then, when it is no longer supported because of the cavity below, the soil or sand over the limestone collapses into a sinkhole.
The collapse of the surface can happen suddenly or over a few hours. Heavy rainfall or poor drainage systems can trigger a collapse.
Citizens in Berezniki, Russia, have also been plagued by sinkholes.
Census data, though, shows that about 12,000 people left the town between 2005 and 2010, after a number of holes opened up.
They are also common in Florida, America.
Jeff Bush, 37, was swallowed into a sinkhole and killed while he slept in his bed in February in the
Tampa Bay area of Florida.
Forget the fact that this is happening all over the world at an alarming rate. Forget that there have never been this many sinkholes reported, ever.
So, if this is what is happening at the surface, I shudder to think of what is going on beneath the surface.
I wonder if when a sinkhole forms up here is some reptilian's bedroom ceiling caving in at the same time?