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Sinkholes in history: Guatemala, Canada, Va., Md., Calif. and elsewhere

Often preceded by heavy rains, the formations can destroy lives and leave shattered buildings

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June 19, 2011

A man inspectas a sinkhole formed in a house in Guatemala City. When neighbors heard the loud boom overnight they thought a cooking gas canister had detonated. The sinkhole was 12.2 meters (40 feet) deep and 80 centimeters (32 inches) in diameter, an AFP journalist who visited the site reported.

Johan Ordonez / AFP/Getty Images

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