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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.

A general view of a large crater that appeared in the early hours in the central German town of Schmalkalden, November 1, 2010. A huge crater measuring 30 by 40 metres has opened up in the middle of a residential estate, according to local police. REUTERS/Alex Domanski (GERMANY - Tags: DISASTER SOCIETY)

A general view of a large crater that appeared in the early hours in the central German town of Schmalkalden, November 1, 2010. A huge crater measuring 30 by 40 metres has opened up in the middle of a residential estate, according to local police. REUTERS/Alex Domanski (GERMANY - Tags: DISASTER SOCIETY)

Alex Domanski-Reuters

Workers look over a sinkhole in Milwaukee, as powerful thunderstorms caused widespread flooding in southern Wisconsin. The storms closed down Milwaukee's airport and two people were hospitalized after being struck by lightning, authorities said.

July 23, 2010

Workers look over a sinkhole in Milwaukee, as powerful thunderstorms caused widespread flooding in southern Wisconsin. The storms closed down Milwaukee's airport and two people were hospitalized after being struck by lightning, authorities said.

Morry Gash-AP

In Guatemala City, a sinkhole measuring 66 feet across and 100 feet deep opened up after rains from Tropical Storm Agatha.

June 1, 2010

In Guatemala City, a sinkhole measuring 66 feet across and 100 feet deep opened up after rains from Tropical Storm Agatha.

Daniel LeClair-Reuters

The sinkhole in Guatemala City swallowed a clothing factory, but no injuries were reported.

May 31, 2010

The sinkhole in Guatemala City swallowed a clothing factory, but no injuries were reported.

Reuters

Police stand guard near the Guatemala City sinkhole, where a three-story building disappeared into the depths.

May 30, 2010

Police stand guard near the Guatemala City sinkhole, where a three-story building disappeared into the depths.

Reuters

A landslide in Saint-Jude, Quebec, was triggered by a sinkhole that engulfed a house northeast of Montreal.

May 11, 2010

A landslide in Saint-Jude, Quebec, was triggered by a sinkhole that engulfed a house northeast of Montreal.

Graham Hughes-AP

In Saint-Jude, Quebec, the sinkhole cratered beneath a roadway.

May 11, 2010

In Saint-Jude, Quebec, the sinkhole cratered beneath a roadway.

Graham Hughes-AP

The Saint-Jude, Quebec, sinkhole destroyed a family's house and the road nearby.

May 11, 2010

The Saint-Jude, Quebec, sinkhole destroyed a family's house and the road nearby.

Graham Hughes-AP

Tennessee transportation workers assess eastbound Interstate 24 near Chattanooga. The sinkhole measured 25 feet deep, 40 feet long and 18 feet wide.

May 18, 2010

Tennessee transportation workers assess eastbound Interstate 24 near Chattanooga. The sinkhole measured 25 feet deep, 40 feet long and 18 feet wide.

Danielle Moore-AP

A driveway in Marietta, Ga., was damaged when a sinkhole appeared overnight. Homeowner Lisa Thompson said she saw a tree fall and the ground open up.

Jan. 26, 2010

A driveway in Marietta, Ga., was damaged when a sinkhole appeared overnight. Homeowner Lisa Thompson said she saw a tree fall and the ground open up.

Bob Andres-AP

A firetruck is removed from a sinkhole in North Hollywood, Calif. The ground had been saturated by weeks of rain.

Sept. 8, 2009

A firetruck is removed from a sinkhole in North Hollywood, Calif. The ground had been saturated by weeks of rain.

Nick Ut-AP

A sinkhole on northbound lanes of the 110 Freeway were closed just north of Fair Oaks in South Pasadena, Calif. A small pothole turned into a commuter detour as excavation exposed a corroded and leaking pipe.

July 18, 2008

A sinkhole on northbound lanes of the 110 Freeway were closed just north of Fair Oaks in South Pasadena, Calif. A small pothole turned into a commuter detour as excavation exposed a corroded and leaking pipe.

Annie Wells-Los Angeles Times

Dale Boulevard was closed in Prince William County after a washout created this gap in the roadway.

May 16, 2008

Dale Boulevard was closed in Prince William County after a washout created this gap in the roadway.

David Brown-Virginia Department of Transportation

Crews worked on a sinkhole on Jones Mills Road in Chevy Chase.

May 7, 2008

Crews worked on a sinkhole on Jones Mills Road in Chevy Chase.

Kevin Clark-The Washington Post

A tractor was called in to remove a truck and other equipment that fell into a sinkhole in Daisetta, Tex.

May 7, 2008

A tractor was called in to remove a truck and other equipment that fell into a sinkhole in Daisetta, Tex.

Pat Sullivan-AP

A sinkhole on westbound Interstate 70 in Frederick grew to measure 14 by 20 feet, tying up one lane of traffic.

April 24, 2008

A sinkhole on westbound Interstate 70 in Frederick grew to measure 14 by 20 feet, tying up one lane of traffic.

Linda Davidson-The Washington Post

Years of lead and zinc mining near Picher, Okla., turned the area into a superfund site with sinkholes and tainted water.

May 11, 2010

Years of lead and zinc mining near Picher, Okla., turned the area into a superfund site with sinkholes and tainted water.

Charlie Riedel-AP

A sinkhole spanning more than two lanes forced the closure of northbound Interstate 25 in Denver.

Feb. 7, 2008

A sinkhole spanning more than two lanes forced the closure of northbound Interstate 25 in Denver.

Peter M. Fredin-AP

A 200-by-240-foot sinkhole tore apart Soledad Mountain Road in La Jolla, Calif. Multiple homes were evacuated.

Oct. 3, 2007

A 200-by-240-foot sinkhole tore apart Soledad Mountain Road in La Jolla, Calif. Multiple homes were evacuated.

Kent Horner-Getty Images

About a dozen homes disappeared into a sinkhole in Guatemala City.

April 10, 2007

About a dozen homes disappeared into a sinkhole in Guatemala City.

Rodrigo Abd-AP

Several Guatemala City homes were lost to the depths.

Feb. 23, 2007

Several Guatemala City homes were lost to the depths.

Reuters

The Pinheiros subway station in Sao Paulo, Brazil, collapsed when a sinkhole opened up at a construction site.

Jan. 15, 2007

The Pinheiros subway station in Sao Paulo, Brazil, collapsed when a sinkhole opened up at a construction site.

Mauricio Lima-AFP/Getty Images

A sinkhole in Deltona, Fla., developed under all four lanes of Howland Boulevard and forced the evacuation of 20 homes.

Dec. 18, 2004

A sinkhole in Deltona, Fla., developed under all four lanes of Howland Boulevard and forced the evacuation of 20 homes.

Barbara V. Perez-AP

A broken water main was blamed for the weakened asphalt in Annandale into which a school bus plunged.

Nov. 11, 2004

A broken water main was blamed for the weakened asphalt in Annandale into which a school bus plunged.

Ian Wagreich for The Washington Post

A firefighter passes a sinkhole on Via Posillipo in Naples.

Nov. 7, 2004

A firefighter passes a sinkhole on Via Posillipo in Naples.

Salvatore Laporta-AP

In West Palm Beach, Fla., a portion of northbound Interstate 95 gave way after storms from Hurricane Frances.

Sept. 5, 2004

In West Palm Beach, Fla., a portion of northbound Interstate 95 gave way after storms from Hurricane Frances.

Damon Higgins-AP

Tropical Storm Gaston was blamed for this sinkhole in Richmond.

Aug. 31, 2004

Tropical Storm Gaston was blamed for this sinkhole in Richmond.

Mark Gormus-AP

A car plummeted into a 20-foot hole measuring 30 feet by 16 feet in Owings Mills, Md. The two passengers were taken to a hospital.

April 28, 2004

A car plummeted into a 20-foot hole measuring 30 feet by 16 feet in Owings Mills, Md. The two passengers were taken to a hospital.

Matt Houston-AP

A sinkhole left a crater by the Interstate 70 overpass on South Street in Frederick, Md.

Sept. 23, 2003

A sinkhole left a crater by the Interstate 70 overpass on South Street in Frederick, Md.

Ricky Carioti-The Washington Post

Residents of Frederick, Md., gather to inspect a sinkhole in the 5500 block of New Design Road.

June 20, 2003

Residents of Frederick, Md., gather to inspect a sinkhole in the 5500 block of New Design Road.

Ricky Carioti-The Washington Post

A 30-foot portion of Bank Street at M Street NW slid into a construction pit in Georgetown.

March 27, 2003

A 30-foot portion of Bank Street at M Street NW slid into a construction pit in Georgetown.

Sarah L. Voisin-The Washington Post

A 150-foot-wide sinkhole in Orlando threatened to swallow two apartment buildings. Engineers tested the soil to try to predict whether it would expand.

June 12, 2002

A 150-foot-wide sinkhole in Orlando threatened to swallow two apartment buildings. Engineers tested the soil to try to predict whether it would expand.

Phelan M. Ebenhack-AP

A sinkhole in Plant City, Fla.

May 29, 2000

A sinkhole in Plant City, Fla.

Dale Wilson-AP

No one was hurt after a car fell into a sinkhole along MacArthur Boulevard NW.

Aug. 12, 2001

No one was hurt after a car fell into a sinkhole along MacArthur Boulevard NW.

Dudley M. Brooks-The Washington Post

In Taichung Port, Taiwan, a sinkhole is filled with molasses from nearby storage tanks, which ruptured in an earthquake four days earlier.

Sept. 25, 1999

In Taichung Port, Taiwan, a sinkhole is filled with molasses from nearby storage tanks, which ruptured in an earthquake four days earlier.

Toru Yamanaka-AFP/Getty Images

John Muir Drive in San Francisco broke apart, bringing a car crashing down.

Jan. 18, 1998

John Muir Drive in San Francisco broke apart, bringing a car crashing down.

Joaquin Siopack-AP

Workers try to figure out how to tow a waste disposal truck from a sinkhole near Chambersburg Pa.

June 20, 1997

Workers try to figure out how to tow a waste disposal truck from a sinkhole near Chambersburg Pa.

Christopher Shatzer-AP

A 30-by-100-foot sinkhole affects a three-way intersection in Shoreline, Wash.

Jan. 1, 1997

A 30-by-100-foot sinkhole affects a three-way intersection in Shoreline, Wash.

Douglas C. Pizac-AP

A broken sewer pipe was blamed in the creation of a 60-foot-deep hole that destroyed two homes in San Francisco's Sea Cliff neighborhood.

Dec. 11, 1995

A broken sewer pipe was blamed in the creation of a 60-foot-deep hole that destroyed two homes in San Francisco's Sea Cliff neighborhood.

George Nikitin-AP

In Winter Park, Fla., this sinkhole grew even as crews tried to retrieve cars that fell into the original crevasse.

May 11, 1981

In Winter Park, Fla., this sinkhole grew even as crews tried to retrieve cars that fell into the original crevasse.

AP

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