The following CNN news video is about a large sinkhole in Belle Rose, Louisiana. This video shows the sinkhole and discusses its mysterious cause and the fact that it is getting even bigger. The video was added to the CNN website on August 10, 2012. Ed Lavandera is a reporter for this story.
Officials still don’t know what caused the sinkhole, and there is growing concern because it is expanding. This phenomenon has even swallowed up cypress trees as tall as about 100 feet.
The Belle Rose sinkhole is now up to over 300 feet wide in some places. And it has been measured to be as deep as 400 feet.
One theory is that a salt-dome cavern below collapsed, causing the ground to cave in and form the hole, which looks like a swamp.
One potential problem is there is a nearby well with over a million gallons of liquid butane. This could cause a massive health and safety problem if that butane well is breached.
There was a warning sign before the sinkhole formed. An increased amount of methane gas was being released up to about two months ago. And the sinkhole finally formed about a week ago.