Crews begin filling massive Groveland sinkhole with dirt

GROVELAND, Fla. — A giant sinkhole in Lake County has opened up in the same spot as another one did 40 years ago.

Crews shut down Iowa Avenue near Waldo Street in Groveland in an effort to stabilize the ground before it could be filled in.

Crews started filling the hole Monday. They poured around 20 dump trucks full of dirt inside, which only partial filled it.

The sinkhole, which has grown to 45-feet-wide and 65-feet-deep, opened near a home at Iowa and East Waldo avenues at about 1 p.m. Sunday, said Sgt. Stephanie Crews, a police spokeswoman.

Raw: Groveland massive sinkhole

The sinkhole ruptured the water main, knocking out water services to residents in the area.

Crews worked through the night to get the water back on. The area is under boil water advisory.

The sinkhole took out the driveway of a home and the residents, along with neighbors across the street were evacuated.

"It's looking like its beginning to stabilize, and the homes are far enough apart. I just heard that the people who live in this home will be returning and the people who live in this home had just purchased the home, so, this is a little bit unsettling for them," said Groveland Mayor Tim Loucks.

"If it spread underground, I mean our house could collapse," said resident Gloria Fairchild.

Fairchild and her 93-year-old mother have been forced out of their home due to the sinkhole that is less than 50 feet away from their house.

"They just told us it's not safe to go back in yet and we will be going back in when they say its OK," said Fairchild.

For now, the streets will remain blocked off.

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