Large sinkhole swallows 2 homes, continues to grow in Florida



LAND O' LAKES, Fla. -- A sinkhole that started out the size of a small swimming pool and continued to grow has swallowed a home in Florida and severely damaged another.

Pasco County Fire Chief Shawn Whited said during a news conference that crews were called to the home north of Tampa about 7:30 a.m. Friday after someone noticed a depression had formed under a boat parked outside a house. Within minutes, he says, "the hole opened up."

Whited says the residents had left for work, but firefighters rescued two dogs and retrieved some of the home's belongings. By 8:30 a.m., part of the house collapsed. An hour later, the sinkhole had swallowed most of the home and a portion of the one next door.

County building officials have deemed about 10 homes unsafe and say more may be affected.

The Tampa Bay Times reports Duke Energy has cut power to about 100 homes in the neighborhood.