I-80 Sinkhole Appears in the Middle of California Road; How Wide Was the Sinkhole? [VIDEO & REPORT]

By Jobs & Hire Staff Reporter | Aug 23, 2013 09:12 PM EDT

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Traffic on both sides in the Interstate 80 was disrupted as a sinkhole suddenly appeared early Tuesday morning. The eastbound and the westbound lanes were closed for to traffic to ensure the safety of motorists. The I-80 sinkhole is approximately more than 8 feet deep and 3 feet wide.

By 2:45 pm today, the 1-80 sinkhole was filled up with a mixture of cement, water, and gravel. According to a statement by Rochelle Jenkins from the Department of Transportation, road is now passable on both lanes.

The cause and origin of the I-80 sinkhole is still unknown, although experts think that a possible explanation is the stream of water that runs underneath the section of the road.

The I-80 sinkhole is just one of the few sinkholes that appeared throughout America this year. The most noticeable occurrence however, is noted mostly in the Southern States. The appearance of the I-80 sinkhole almost immediately followed the Louisiana sinkhole which was caught on tape. The sinkhole swallowed a significant number of trees as it appeared. The video of the event was recorded by a priest who lives nearby. Early this year, another sinkhole appeared in Florida, destroying a man's home and claiming his life as well.

The I-80n sinkhole, among others, causes debate as to the danger that they can pose. As of now, scientists have no tools to predict where the next sinkhole might appear as they occurrence is influenced by a lot of different factors. Although difficult, concerned government agencies are now looking into ways to mitigate the damages that a sinkhole might cause.

To give you an idea on how destructive sinkholes can be, watch this viral Louisiana sinkhole video from YouTube:

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