NEW PORT RICHEY (FOX 13) - The 15-foot-deep hole that opened up in a Pasco County neighborhood is a sinkhole, geologists confirmed Tuesday morning.
The sinkhole was discovered on Sunday in the backyard of two mobile homes along Pearl Drive in the Moon Lake area, but it doubled in size overnight. According to the Pasco County Fire Rescue, it measures about 15 feet by 15 feet.
County officials said despite the heavy rainfall on Monday evening, the sinkhole has not grown overnight. They said they will continue to monitor it. A voluntary evacuation was issued for six homes surrounding he area, and officials said they will continue to re-evaluate them for safety. One home is vacant.
Residents in four homes choose to evacuate, and one decided to stay in her home, as of Monday evening. Pasco County officials said they expect the hole to widen only slightly as it settles.