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Another mystery sinkhole appears

German town is the latest location to experience the mysterious apperance of a giant hole in the ground.

A crater some 20 metres deep has opened up in a residential area of an eastern German town - swallowing a car and a garage door, but causing no injuries.

Emergency services were called to the crater in Schmalkalden about 3am on Monday by a resident who reported hearing unusual noises. Six houses and 25 people were evacuated.

Lutz Katschmann of Thuringia state's environment and geology office said it wasn't immediately clear why the ground gave way, the German news agency DAPD reported.

Hole in the road ... a car and a garage door were swallowed up.

Hole in the road ... a car and a garage door were swallowed up. Photo: AP

The crater measures 30 metres by 30 metres.

Katschmann said it was possible that rock formations underground broke up, creating a cavity.

Authorities plan to fill the hole with gravel.

This hole appeared in a street in Schmalkalden

This hole appeared in a street in Schmalkalden Photo: AP