Florida: Deadly sinkhole reopens two years after swallowing and killing sleeping Jeffery Bush

A massive sinkhole in Florida has reopened two years after a sinkhole in the same location swallowed and killed a sleeping man, authorities announced on 19 August. The sinkhole, which measures around 20-feet in diameter, is located in Seffner, just east of Tampa, Florida.

Hillsborough County Fire Rescue responded to the location on 19 August, along with code enforcement.

"This is the same location we responded to previously on February 28, 2013, which unfortunately involved a loss of life," a statement by the fire department said. "Upon arrival, it was confirmed that this is the same sinkhole. At this time the appropriate authorities and departments have been called to assist."

According to the Associated Press, authorities believe the sinkhole reopened because of recent rains plaguing the area.

"The hole opened up exactly where it was the last time," Larry McKinnon of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office told ABC News. "Code enforcement is out there now and they are waiting on specialists and geologists to survey the site and determine what to do next. Not only is it very rare, but here, there was a fatality."

In March 2013, Jeffrey Bush, 36, was sleeping in his bedroom when the floor collapsed into a sinkhole and he fell in. His brother, Jeremy Bush, was in the house at the time of the incident and attempted to save him by jumping into the hole. However, he had to be rescued by authorities as the ground continued to crumble around him.

Jeffrey Bush's body was never recovered. According to AP, Jeremy Bush was on site on 19 August as the sinkhole reopened.

"It's the same site it was in 2013 but of course, the property had been fenced off, the house had been demolished, and the hole had been filled in," McKinnon said. "We've seen them reopen before. Generally when they fill them in, they are pretty stable — subsequent to that of repairs, so it is pretty rare that it reopened to the extent of this. Our biggest thing is we've cordoned off the area in case it does expand, nobody is injured."

Ronnie Rivera, of Hillsborough Fire Rescue, told AP that the new sinkhole has not led to reports of injuries and no nearby homes have been evacuated.

Florida is prone to sinkholes forcing state law to require home insurers to provide coverage against sinkholes. The southern state is susceptible to sinkholes due to limestone caverns below ground.