Sinkhole reopens for third time after it swallowed man in 2013

SEFFNER, Fla. — A sinkhole in Seffner, Florida, that has opened twice before opened again earlier in the week, officials there say.

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In a news release, Hillsborough County officials say that Hillsborough County Fire Rescue, county engineers, and code enforcement officials were called out Monday after a report that a “void had reappeared” at 240 Faithway Drive in Seffner.

The county says that the sinkhole opened in the area in 2013, then reopened in 2015.

“In 2013, the sinkhole was remediated using a method designed to minimize danger to surrounding areas by containing any future reopening to the original location and prevent expansion of the opening,” the county said.

Workers began filling the hole with gravel and water earlier this week, Division Director of Hillsborough County Code Enforcement, Jon-Paul Lavandeira said, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

The sinkhole was about 19 feet deep, 19 feet wide north to south, and 16 feet wide east to west, according to the newspaper.

“If it does occur again, we know exactly what’s going to happen, and we already have a plan of attack on handling it,” Lavandeira said, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

Lavandeira said that no homes in the area are in danger and “This is not uncommon, what we’re seeing here,” according to The Associated Press.

Jeff Bush, 37, was sleeping in a room in his house in 2013 when “the earth opened up and devoured him and part of the house, according to the AP. Five others were able to escape uninjured. Bush’s brother, Jeremy Bush, tried to get him out. He was unsuccessful and his body was never found.

Florida has more sinkholes than any other state, the AP reported. The state is made up of porous carbonate rocks like limestone. Limestone helps store and move groundwater.