Several homes in a Tampa, Fla., neighborhood were evacuated Thursday morning after a massive sinkhole swallowed part of a backyard.
"The homeowner says he heard a very loud pounding on the wall earlier this morning and realized the hole was widening." (Via NTV)
Part of a swimming pool, a boat and a tree can be seen slipping into the giant hole. Officials believe it reaches about 40 feet into the ground. (Via WTVT)
The sinkhole was first reported to be 12 feet wide, but Tampa's WFTS estimates it has stretched to 80 feet and continues to expand.
According to HLN, the homeowners whose property has been swallowed actually suspected a sinkhole was opening and already hired a sinkhole prevention company to work on it two days prior to Thursday's incident.
"We were back and forth with the insurance company. They just wanted to do a grouting fix. After a separate incident we decided, well, we're scared to sleep here, let's just get it fixed the way the insurance company wanted it."
So far, seven area homes have been evacuated. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. NBC reports there have been 19,000 documented cases of sinkholes in Florida.
