PALM SPRINGS, Fla. — A ruptured utility line caused a portion of a roadway to collapse Tuesday night in South Florida, causing one resident to be evacuated from her home.
Palm Beach County Fire Rescue drove to Florida Mango Road and Waterside Drive at about 8 p.m. to find it partially collapsed, WPTV News 5 reported. Lake Worth Beach utilities, among other agencies, determined a ruptured sewer line caused the collapse.
No one was hurt, fire rescue officials told WPEC 12 News.
Nearby, officials from the local law enforcement arrived to help block the road off from drivers. Some were not able to drive up to their homes, WPTV reported.
One resident, who was reportedly told to evacuate her house by fire rescue officials, said she figured a nearby construction crew hit the sewer line because the area started to smell bad, she told the outlet.
"I'm a sinkhole novice. But it's my understanding that sinkholes can worsen over several months or a year. So I'm concerned about my property," she said.
Officials then handed the incident investigation over to Palm Springs Water Department.
Residents were also urged to avoid swimming in or fishing from the nearby canal but water is still safe to drink, according to WPBF News 25.
The Tampa Bay area is considered a “sinkhole alley,” where Pasco, Hernando and Hillsborough counties make up three-quarters of the total sinkhole incidents recorded last year, according to Florida’s sinkhole map.
