Second Sinkhole Discovered Behind Florida Home

Seffner, FL — Hillsborough County officials are investigating a second sinkhole that has been discovered behind a home in Seffner, Florida.

According to WFLA, the sinkhole was discovered around 4:00 pm Monday, less than two miles from the sinkhole that left one man dead last week. Fire rescue and code enforcement teams were on the scene on the 1200 block of Cedar Tree Lane to determine if it is safe for families to stay in their homes, WTSP reports. Fortunately, there appears to be no structural damage to the houses at this time.

This second sinkhole appears to be about 10 feet across and opened up underneath a fence dividing two properties.

Last week, a sinkhole opened up beneath a home 15 miles east of Tampa, swallowing 37-year-old Jeff Bush, who was in his bedroom at the time. Five members of the Bush family were able to escape from the sinkhole, which was reported to be 20 feet wide and 50 to 60 feet deep. Two nearby homes were evacuated, and the Bush home had to be demolished to prevent it from collapsing further. Before the home was condemned, the family was given 30 minutes to recover their belongings. They are now living in a house next door.

A search for the body of Jeff Bush has since been called off, and the family was distraught at the thought that his body may never be recovered. Thirty-five-year-old Jeremy Bush tried to save his brother and later criticized rescuers for not trying harder to save him.

The opening of the sinkhole was covered by the home, but now that emergency officials and engineers are able to see inside it more clearly, they can determine what will happen to the other two houses and whether or not they can be saved.

According to CBS News, the area around Seffner is prone to sinkholes because of the geography of the terrain. They are rarely deadly, but Jeff Bush’s death was an unfortunate exception.