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The massive, car-swallowing sinkhole that made headlines 15 years ago is growing again after a decade-and-a-half of stability.
The sinkhole, located in Daisetta between Houston and Beaumont, as reported in 2008, grew from 20 feet wide to over 900 feet wide and 260 feet deep, ABC 13 reports. Now, officials estimate the sinkhole has expanded 150 feet in width and 150 in depth, Liberty County Assistant Fire Marshal Erksin Holcomb told the news outlet. That puts the massive crater at over 1,000 feet wide; for reference, a football field is only 360 feet long.
Holcomb also said "not much can be done to prevent, repair, or mitigate sinkholes as it's an act of nature," adding that "sinkholes are extremely unpredictable. It can take a week to move one foot, or it can crumble 20 feet overnight."
The City of Daisetta issued a news release Monday (April 3) urging residents to stay away from the area near FM 770. "City officials immediately contacted the offices of the Liberty County Judge, the Liberty County Fire Marshall, and the Texas Division of Emergency Management, and notified residents in the immediate area of the situation," the news release states. "City officials are closely monitoring the situation and will work with state and local authorities to provide updates to the community as the situation progresses."
ABC 13's SkyEye revealed there are visible cracks in the earth near the sinkhole. "Some tanks, buildings, and other structures appear to be leaning and sliding into the water," the news outlet reported.
"My neighbor came over (Sunday) and said he kept hearing popping sounds like a gunshot. We went to the backyard, and there were buildings falling in. It was like a movie. You can see cracks forming in the ground," resident Tim Priessler told ABC 13.
As of Monday evening, no evacuations have been ordered. Stay tuned to your local news station for more up-to-date information.