'Sinkhole season' has only just begun in Florida

March 5, 2013 @ 1:04 pm


This Aerial photo shows demolition workers picking up the remnants from the home of Jeff Bush, Tuesday, March 5, 2013, in Seffner, Fla. A huge sinkhole opened up under a bedroom in the home last Thursday, Feb. 28, and swallowed Jeff Bush, 37. Officials gave up hope of finding Bush alive and filled in the hole with crushed rock. (AP Photo/The Tampa Bay Times, Dirk Shadd) TAMPA OUT; CITRUS COUNTY OUT; PORT CHARLOTTE OUT; BROOKSVILLE HERNANDO TODAY OUT | Zoom

SEFFNER, Fla. (AP) - As crews entombed a man who was swallowed by a sinkhole near Tampa, the earth opened up again just a few miles away.

In a neighboring county, officials investigated reports of a home cracking on Tuesday, perhaps due to another sinkhole.

Across Florida this time of year, State Geologist Jonathan Arthur says it's the start of what's unofficially considered the "sinkhole season."

He says it coincides with the state's rainy season and usually lasts until the end of summer.

Arthur looked at 50 years of data and found that there is usually an uptick of reported sinkholes in February, with an increase until about July, when activity tapers off.

Both extremely dry weather and very wet weather can trigger sinkholes. Man-made activities can also cause the earth to collapse.


(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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