Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, WV

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March 5, 2013

’Sinkhole season’ has only just begun in Florida

Associated Press

SEFFNER, Fla. —  As crews entombed a man who was swallowed by a sinkhole near Tampa, the earth opened up again just a few miles away.

In a neighboring county, officials investigated reports of a home cracking on Tuesday, perhaps due to another sinkhole.

Across Florida this time of year, State Geologist Jonathan Arthur says it’s the start of what’s unofficially considered the “sinkhole season.”

He says it coincides with the state’s rainy season and usually lasts until the end of summer.

Arthur looked at 50 years of data and found that there is usually an uptick of reported sinkholes in February, with an increase until about July, when activity tapers off.

Both extremely dry weather and very wet weather can trigger sinkholes. Man-made activities can also cause the earth to collapse.

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