OCALA, Fla. – A large sinkhole opened near homes Wednesday night in Marion County, forcing officials to evacuate a neighborhood.
The hole, estimated to be 40 feet wide and 20 feet deep, opened in the Oak Run neighborhood in front of a home at 10904 SW 83rd Ave. in Ocala.
According to Marion County officials, a water main break occurred in the area, but it's not known if it took place before the hole opened.
"Under normal circumstances, when a sinkhole opens, the water pipe will break since it loses the support of the soil underneath it and it can’t handle the burden of the soil on top of it," Marion County officials said. "There was no indication of a washout at the site."
Officials said a second sinkhole opened up more than an hour after the water was turned off.
Four customers in the area are without water, according to officials, who said the water line can’t be repaired until there is enough support underneath it.
"It started about 10 to 15 feet in diameter. It proceeded to get larger and larger," said Richard Dally, who lives nearby. "We're starting to get more and more nervous. It's starting to creep over to us a little bit. Looking over there at our house, it's kind of like we're sitting on the edge of a cliff right now."
All but one resident were allowed to return to their homes on Thursday.
Marion County is working with Oak Run to determine the next steps.
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