Whats Up with Sinkholes Appearing Around the World

Recently, I've been hearing on the news and on the web about these sinkholes appearing around the globe.  Of course not all appeared at the same, but this year certainly.  I don't know about you, but I definitely find it very odd.  There must some geological explanation, other than blame it on the weather, soil corrosion, or whatever.  

JULY 24, 2010 in MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN

Milwaukee Sinkhole 2010 – Heavy rain caused a lot of problems in Milwaukee on Thursday, one of them being the twenty foot deep sinkhole that swallowed up several large objects. One of the things that it swallowed was a Cadillac Escalade SUV. The driver of the vehicle named Lance Treankler luckily escaped uninjured, although the outcome could have been an entirely different, tragic story.

JULY 24, 2010, in HUNTINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA

 If you are planning on crossing the Fifth Street Robert C. Byrd Bridge or driving on Huntington’s Fourth Avenue, you will have to make some route adjustments.  On Friday afternoon a large sinkhole opened at the intersection of Fourth Avenue and Fifth Street. The hole has potentially destabilized most of the roadway which is located near the bridge. 

JULY 23, 2010 BIRMINGHAM ALABAMA

ALDOT has drilled down about 40 feet so far. Still, they have to go another ten feet. "If the weather cooperates and the other findings as we continue to escavate look okay to us. We should have the sinkhole filed and traffic shifted back to normal patterns by the end of next week. Hopefully we will not be closing any more lanes." Harris said.  origin of article

OCTOBER 2009, HOPKINS COUNTY, KENTUCKY

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is repairing a sinkhole in southern Hopkins County that has caused headaches for drivers along Kentucky 2171 over the last eight months.  The hole appeared in October 2009, taking up an entire lane.  Traffic has had to be pushed over to the shoulder of the road to avoid the hole.   Engineers are still studying to see what exactly caused the hole to form, but the Transportation Cabinet says the sinkhole was more than likely caused by coal mining tunnels,which are all over the region.  Transportation crews plan to make additional repairs to the road in two weeks. In all, repairs to the hole are expected to cost almost $50,000.  origin of article

JULY 24, 2010, WESTCHESTER, CHICAGO

If one family embodies the aggravation of 2010's stormy summer, the Lewandowskis of Highridge Avenue in Westchester very well may be it.  Their odyssey started with basement flooding on June 23, when the Chicago area, and western suburbs in particular, were battered by fierce storms and rain. Two days later, after clearing and cleaning their finished basement, the Lewandowskis noticed that their beloved backyard lilac tree was being swallowed by an acrid sinkhole.  Their brief investigation concluded that a collapsed sewer line was the source of the sinkhole. The village was called and officials agreed that the line needed to be replaced. They scheduled a crew to do the work. origin of article

JULY 27, 2010, SAVANNAH, GA

A sinkhole appeared Wednesday near the intersection of Warner and West Bay streets, according to Savannah-Chatham police.  About 2:30 p.m., several motorists called to report the growing hole on the 600 block of Bay, near Yamacraw Village.  The hole appeared to be about 2 1/2-feet wide by 8 feet deep.  No injuries were reported as a result of the sinkhole, said Gena Moore, metro police spokeswoman.  origin of article