Welcome to the International Hole of Pancakes: a sinkhole that swallowed 15 vehicles at a diner in Meridian, Miss., leaving them submerged in mud and sending otherwise unhurt locals scrambling.
Emergency services were called about 7:15 p.m. central time on Saturday after the ground opened up at the new IHOP on i20 near Bonita Reservoir.
“Upon arrival, we found multiple vehicles in the ditch. At this time, we are trying to stabilize this and keep everyone away,”Meridian Fire Department Chief Battalion Wayne Cook told local reporters at WTOK.
The restaurant only opened a few days ago, and it isn’t clear how much damage has been caused to the building or nearby infrastructure. About 40,000 people live in Meridian, which received 3 inches of rain over the weekend and nearly 10 in the last two weeks, according to USA Today.