LAKELAND, Fla. – Hundreds of residents living around Scott Lake can only watch and wait to see whether their lake — and a few homes — will be swallowed by a giant sinkhole.
The sinkhole opened last Thursday at the south end of the lake, and has been growing at a rate of six-to-eight inches a day. In the process, a home, several docks, swimming pools and backyard gazebos have been destroyed.
Polk County officials say there is nothing that can be done, and that it is simply an unfortunate act of nature.
"My understanding is, if it's a natural phenomena, it's not the county's responsibility," said Jay Jarvis, drainage manager with the Polk County Natural Resources Division.
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