Growing sinkhole causes evacuations in Tarpon Springs, Florida

Growing sinkhole causes evacuations in Tarpon Springs, Florida


This is reportedly a re-opened known sinkhole, located along U.S. 19 at Mango Street. City officials say water and sewer lines have broken at the site of the hole, and panels of fencing are falling into the muddy mire.

As of early Wednesday (local time), the sinkhole is some 30 meters (100 feet) wide, more than 18 meters (60 feet) deep and is growing fast.

Videos courtesy of ABC Action News

Sinkholes are a relatively common occurrence in Tarpon Springs and elsewhere in central Florida. The bulk of Florida’s peninsula is made up carbonate rock (limestone and dolostone) overlain by variable thicknesses and mixtures of sand and clay. Carbonate rocks store and transmit groundwater.

Through a slow chemical process, these carbonate rocks may dissolve, resulting in karst terrain characterized by sinkholes, caves (wet and dry), springs, disappearing/reappearing streams, and other land surface depressions all of which are commonly found throughout Florida.

Featured image: ABC Action News


Zoongizi 4 years ago

Sinkholes happened occasionally pre-colonization but the real reason for the current large numbers of sinkholes in florida and other places with a similar geological makeup are due to the massive amounts of underground water being pumped out of the ground to support the ever growing size of the colonist population that use unneeded enourmous amounts of water. Much of the land here is supported by the underground water... remove that water or lower its level and eventually the surface ground will collapse. Also it dries out wetlands, lakes and certain types of rivers. All of this has a drastic effect on the ecosystem that all beings need to survive.
So it's not really a just a simple sinkhole proble.
Use way less water and stop polluting ground water sources.

Richard Turner 4 years ago

I live in Pompano Beach, Florida. Please keep us updated on this. Also, let us know if this can happen here where Iam. Thanks.

Teo Blašković (@Richard Turner) 4 years ago

Not sure for that particular area, but sinkholes are common throughout Florida. Here is an update on this particular event:

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