Sinkhole Scare in Palm Harbor

Updated, 11:27 a.m.:

Nearby residents were being allowed back in their homes after Tuesday's sinkhole scare at 114 Harbor Dr. in Ozonoa, where officials say there's no danger of a collapse.

The two women who were in the home thought to have a possible sinkhole were told to leave and come back in a few hours.

"There's no catastrophic collapse of the property, and it's not in any danger of collapse,"  said Dan Zinge, with Palm Harbor Fire Rescue outside the home Tuesday morning.

"To the best of our ability right now, as far as our determination with what we've done with the Pinellas County Engineering Department is that it's not in imminent danger of collapse," he said.

"There is a raised area inside the house that can be caused by a numbr of issues, one of which could be a sinkhole. ... and it's highly unlikely right now based on the tests we've done," said Zinge.

Officials said a woman inside the home called 911 this morning after noticing tiles separating from the floor in a 12 feet by 20 feet area in the center of the home.

Earlier:

Reports of a sinkhole have prompted the evacuation of three Palm Harbor homes, officials said Tuesday morning.

Palm Harbor Fire Rescue is on the scene of "what appears to be a sinkhole" at a private residence at 114 Harbor Dr., fire spokesperson Liz Monforti said in a media release.

The occupants of the home, as well as two neighboring homes, have been evacuated as a precaution, Monforti said, and there are no reported injuries.

"Initial reports show extensive cracking on the interior and exterior of the home," Monforti said.

The Pinellas County building inspector was also en route to the scene.

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