A 15 metre wide and 18 metre long sinkhole swallows cars in restaurant car park

DINERS heard a series of thundering booms. Then the power went out. When they went to see what was going on, this is what they saw.

A 15-METRE wide sinkhole opened up under a parking lot outside a new restauant in the south of the US.

Witnesses at the new IHOP restaurant in Meridian, the sixth largest city in Mississippi, reported hearing a series of booms before the power went out and sinkhole opened up about 7.15pm on Saturday (12.15pm AEST Sunday).

“We received a call of vehicles going through the pavement at the IHOP in Meridian,” Meridian Police patrol Lieutenant Rita Jack told NBC News.

“When we arrived on scene, 14 to 15 vehicles that we could see had fallen roughly 30 feet [9.1 metres] into the ground. We expect that there may be more and that they may fall further into the ground because there is only mud underneath.”

WHAT IS CAUSING ALL THESE SINKHOLES

MASSIVE SINKHOLE EATS STREET

It’s still unclear what caused the sinkhole, but several witnesses believe a nearby water pipe that ruptured might have been the cause. Others believe the 33cm of rain the city has received over the past two weeks could be to blame.

“The sinkhole is huge,” Lieutenant Jack said. “If you imagine a football field cut in half, it is every bit of 50 feet wide and about 600 feet long. We are talking 14 to 15 vehicles.

“It is very scary. We are so fortunate that no injuries were sustained. We are gonna keep it under observation until we know that it is clear and safe.”

More pictures of the #meridian #sinkhole aka the #meridiansinkhole this morning: pic.twitter.com/H30phOM5tJ

— Lieutenant Somebody (@overdesigned) November 8, 2015

Meridian sinkhole! #meridiansinkhole pic.twitter.com/HWdbdYz10V

— Andrew Roubion (@rube_the_roubi) November 8, 2015

Prayers! #mindblown #ihop #meridiansinkhole @wdsu @WLOX @WWLTV @WXXV25 @wdam @WBRZ @WGNOtv @FOX8NOLA @FOX10News pic.twitter.com/oQhQfRUQcI

— Keith Wilson (@misterkewi) November 8, 2015

The restaurant had only opened earlier in the week.