In pics | ‘Gateway to underworld’: World’s biggest permafrost crater thaws due to climate change

The Batagaika crater, the world’s biggest permafrost crater, situated in Russia’s Far East is thawing, reported Reuters on Friday (July 21), which has led scientists to raise an alarm as this “mega slump” already threatens cities and towns across northern and northeastern Russia.

World’s biggest permafrost crater thaws due to climate change, threatens Russian cities

Villagers in Russia’s Siberia have spotted a giant crater that is sinking and appearing to pull in everything around it. They are calling it ‘doorway to the underworld’ or ‘mouth to hell’ as the giant hole continues to grow.

Villagers spot giant ‘mouth to hell’ in Siberia, scientists alarmed by its growth

It has been well established through various studies that the Arctic permafrost has been warming and, in many areas, thawing since the 1980s due to climate change.

Climate change-induced permafrost thaw threatening homes, infrastructure in Arctic: Report

With the global temperature rising Russia stands to pay a higher cost than most other nations, and the telltale signs are all too visible now.

15 million homes in Russia at risk due to ice melt