Update: Possible Sinkhole Displaces 6 Families, Swallows Car

Update Nov. 10, 3:20 p.m.: More details are emerging about the depression that opened up at 1728 Torch St. in Holiday.

According to Pasco County spokesman Doug Tobin, the county received a call about the depression around 10:45 a.m. Monday. Fire rescue crews arrived on the scene within two minutes and found a hole that was about 4 feet in diameter and 4 feet deep that had opened up under a driveway, swallowing a car. Within 15 minutes, the hole had expanded to 10 feet in diameter and was 10 feet deep. It has remained stable since 2 p.m.

Since the depression is on private property, the homeowner’s insurance company will be responsible for conducting the geological survey and handling any remediation. In the meantime, the county is not calling the depression a “sinkhole” just yet.

So far, six families have been evacuated as a safety precaution. The Red Cross is working with these families to find temporary shelter. The 1728 Torch St. home has been condemned until the property is fully remediated.

While the county has been working on a sewer lift station in the general area, Tobin said there is no evidence this is what caused the hole to open.

Earlier:

Pasco County is reporting that a depression has opened up in a Holiday neighborhood.

The hole, located at 1728 Torch St., opened up in the driveway, causing a car to fall in.

Residents from four nearby trailers have been evacuated as a precaution, county spokesman Doug Tobin wrote in an email to media.

The whole is estimated to be about 10 feet in diameter and 10 feet deep. The county is not yet calling it a sinkhole until engineering experts have a chance to examine the depression. It is also unclear how soon residents will be able to return home.

Stay with Patch for updates as they become available.

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