Sink Hole @ Guatamela, South America

Check this out!! So scary.. Such a big Sink Hole opened @ Guatamela, South America. Some mails on the internet claiming that this is the work of the earthquake in Sumatra, Indonesia on 6 Mar 07. Below is the actual news.

GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala -- A giant sinkhole opened before dawn Friday 23 Feb 07, swallowing several homes and a truck and leaving a father and two teenagers missing in Guatemala City.

Officials said the 100-meter-deep (330-foot-deep) sinkhole in a crowded neighborhood of poor, concrete homes & blamed the recent rains and an underground sewage flow from a ruptured main for the tragedy.

The pit emitted foul odors, loud noises and tremors, shaking the surrounding ground. A rush of water could be heard from its depths, and authorities feared it could widen or other sinkholes could open up.

Authorities said the hole was extremely unstable, forcing the evacuation of nearly 1,000 people from their homes. Police helped residents, some even carrying refrigerators and televisions on their shoulders.

Police evacuated nearby homes and cordoned off a 500-yard perimeter around the crater. Security officials were on guard for possible looters and curious onlookers.

Authorities had apparently suspected something was wrong with the site before the sinkhole appeared.