A 150-ft. wide sinkhole swallowed trees, pipelines and a sidewalk and forced the evacuation of two buildings in an apartment complex.

As a precaution against erosion, apartment workers draped a heavy plastic liner across the slope closest to the dwellings and hooked up drainage pipes to divert runoff.

Approximately 60 residents of the Woodhill Apartments were forced out of their homes. Twenty-one buildings circle the area where the sinkhole formed, and trees, park benches, underground pipelines and a sidewalk have fallen in.

It was central Florida’s second large sinkhole in recent weeks. On May 29, a 10-ft. deep, 15-ft. wide sinkhole collapsed part of Interstate 4 in Lake Mary, about 15 miles north of Orlando.

Sinkholes occur when sand beneath the surface begins to erode and falls into underlying limestone cavities, causing the surface to collapse. Several factors may contribute to the collapse, including drought, excessive water pumping, traffic or construction.

Heavy rains also may cause sinkholes by raising the water table and soaking and weakening the top layer from beneath.

The geology of Florida makes it especially vulnerable to sinkholes, although they also are found in Texas, Alabama, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee and Pennsylvania.

Today's top stories

Blalock Crews Build TDOT's $67M Newport Bypass

New Bridges Part of Iowa's $114M Madison Avenue Project

Eagle Bridge Co. Works On Final Leg of U.S. 35 Upgrade

SAKAI Achieves Record Sales, Production

Takeuchi Recognizes Top Dealers at 2024 Dealer Summit

Equip Expo's Summer Giveaway Offers a Chance for Lifetime Trade Show Registration, Gift Card, Hotel Stay

Tennessee's Pugmill Systems LLC Expands Its Product Offerings to Include Concrete Plants

ASCENDUM Machinery Opens New Savannah, Ga., Facility