At midday on 25 August in Hefei, Anhui, a dramatic incident unfolded on Jinning Road: a seemingly smooth asphalt surface suddenly gave way, creating a sinkhole about three metres wide.

Dashcam footage shows a white Land Rover SUV driving over the spot when, without warning, it tipped sideways and plunged straight into the hole, swallowed whole. A witness driving behind said he saw the terrifying moment unfold and admitted, “It scared me to death.”

After the accident, shop employees nearby and local residents rushed to help, working together with government staff who arrived on the scene. The four people inside the vehicle were successfully rescued, and, fortunately, none suffered serious injuries.

By just after 3 p.m. that afternoon, the SUV was hoisted out and towed away.

The Hefei Municipal Engineering Management Office has dispatched personnel to handle the situation, and the exact cause of the collapse is still under investigation.