Giant sinkholes open up around west-central Florida after Hurricane Milton

Florida ‘is highly susceptible to sinkholes,’ according to US Geological survey. There have been deaths from sinkholes in Florida, but they are rare.

A possible sinkhole nearly swallowed up two central Florida homes Thursday after the hurricane battered the area. The foundation in between the two homes washed away and now, a gaping hole, estimated to be 12 feet deep is left behind.

The families inside are thankful they made it out alive.

Antayvia Lawson lives right next door to the damaged home, video shows where the corner of the garage started to collapse and the homeowner’s SUV still stuck inside the garage. Lawson says he parked it there thinking it would be safe from the storm.

“It’s horrific, especially with families in there, but as far as the sound of the weather last night, we wouldn’t even imagine to come out to see this. It was just tragic,” Antayvia Lawson.

“I feel for everybody in this neighbourhood and you know because it’s got to be scary especially living next door,” said neighbour, Debbie Sumner.

Sinkholes can form during episodes of heavy rainfall because of the increase in the weight of the surface soil, leading to underground erosion and creation of voids.

According to the National Oceanic And Atmospheric Association, a subsidence is the “sinking of the ground because of underground material movement. It’s most often caused by the removal of water, oil, natural gas, or mineral resources out of the ground by pumping, fracking, or mining activities.” Natural events such as an earthquake (which don’t happen in Florida), sinkhole formation, erosion and soil compaction can contribute to a subsidence.

There have been deaths from sinkholes in Florida, but they are rare. Possibly the most well-known incident happened February 2013 in Seffner. Jeffrey Bush was sleeping in his bedroom when a sinkhole sucked him 20 feet underground. His body was never recovered.