 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
New Spring Hill sinkhole yawning under a houseBy JAMIE MALERNEE
© St. Petersburg Times, SPRING HILL -- Heavy rains are continuing to spawn sinkholes in Spring Hill, where yet another house was threatened Thursday.
"It's been there five days without her knowing," said neighbor Marie Charboneau, shaking her head. "We're all worried. We keep hoping that's the end of it." Forecasters say that's not likely. A 50 percent chance of rain is predicted today and a 40 percent chance of rain is forecast for the weekend, according to the National Weather Service. After a powerful storm Wednesday night, the sinkhole on Little Street doubled in size. On Thursday, it was 16 feet wide, said Bill Appleby, director of county emergency management. The house has been evacuated, and Pace is staying with relatives. She could not be reached for comment Thursday. Her home is the fourth to be evacuated because of sinkholes. More than 45 holes have been confirmed throughout the county, primarily in the Spring Hill area. Appleby also blamed rains for three new sinkholes that have opened up in the drainage retention ditch off Mariner Boulevard. It is the same ditch workers recently filled to stabilize the biggest of this year's sinkholes, which stretched 60 feet wide and 70 feet deep. News of more holes in the drainage ditch disappointed county officials, who had hoped the sinkhole phenomenon was abating. "Obviously, the whole area is unstable," said county spokeswoman Brenda Frazier. Despite the instability, Mariner Boulevard remains open to traffic. Officials opened the road earlier this week after a study using underground radar suggested it was safe to do so. A one-block area on Marysville Street east of Mariner is not, however. Workers hope to begin filling that portion later this week.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 
|
|
