Huge Sinkhole Emerges in Guatemala After Tropical Storm

Gather ^ | May 31, 2010

[skeptoid]

A huge sinkhole has emerged in Guatemala after Tropical Storm Agatha pummeled the region. The photo released by the Guatemalan government is absolutely incredible. CNN is reporting that the sinkhole swallowed a three-story building and a house; killing a security guard.

The huge sinkhole appeared in Zone 2 of Guatemala City, and reports have said similar sinkholes may be in the process of forming.

Can you imagine the earth simply opening up and swallowing a building and a home? When you look at the width and depth of this massive sinkhole in Guatemala, it is actually quite difficult to fathom that this isn't a man made hole.

Sinkholes such as these aren't unheard of, however, and have even occurred in the United States; the more recently recorded ones in the state of Florida

[skeptoid]

This one looks a little larger than the one that formed there on 23 February 2007:

[Mmogamer]

How deep is it?

[Pox]

Happens frequently in certain parts of the world, particularly Florida as far as the U.S. is concerned, although not typically of the magnitude in that picture.

I remember that happening once in downtown Columbus, Ohio and at the bottom of the sinkhole was the car of a lawyer. I think it was back in the mid 80’s.

[fieldmarshaldj]

The second pic looks like a picture of a model with a hole in the tabletop.

[Cold Heart]

A landfill right in the center of town, how convenient.

Seriously, what the heck do they do with these things?

[lmr]

How deep is that? I can’t see the bottom. Looks like an endless abyss.

[fieldmarshaldj]

I think another article said it was about 200 feet deep. =8-0

[Little Pig]

Gotta be more than 70’. At least, that’s about how deep the walls seem to go. I can’t tell how deep the space underneath it goes.

[Charles Henrickson]

[mlocher]

That was my first thought too. The thing that amazed me was how circular the hole is. It also seems like there is a huge cavern underneath the sink hole, implying more could follow.

[Egg]

...at the bottom of the sinkhole was the car of a lawyer...

I was waiting for the punchline.

[BunnySlippers]

You’re kidding me! That’s Photoshop, right? Eek!

[chemicalman]

Kind of amazing that these sink holes are almost perfectly round, and straight. No photos inside of the hole?

[Egg]

Just wait until the oil, methane, and sea water starts gushing out.

[ransomnote]

Weird how round and smooth sided these ‘tunnel-like’ sink holes look.

[skeptoid]

This is the 2007 sinkhole, not yesterday's event.

Note the graphic in upper right

[Pox]

I remember seeing it on the news while I was stationed in West Germany (at least I think that’s when it happened), so I actually never heard the end of the story, but I would imagine the lawyer had no problems with a claim for compensation. :)

[matt1234]

Don’t tell the obama zombies. They’ll want to jump in.

[pankot]

The real question is what, or who, is at the bottom? Abaddon?

[Smokin' Joe]

It wasn't global warming, it was global worming! Now, for pete's sake will someone get after it before we're living on a wiffle ball?