Sinkhole opens beneath Florida home

A sinkhole opened beneath a townhome in Orlando, forcing residents out and leaving two homes unsafe to occupy.

The sinkhole was discovered at the Villas of Costa Del Sol community, where a large section of the ground opened near and underneath the rear portion of a residential building.

Orlando fire officials responded to the property and evacuated residents as a precaution. After inspecting the area, authorities determined that two townhomes were unsafe for residents to remain inside.

No injuries were reported.

Images from the scene showed a large cavity extending underneath part of the structure, raising concerns about the stability of the surrounding ground.

Officials are now working to determine the extent of the damage and what caused the ground to collapse.

For the affected residents, however, the immediate concern is when — or whether — they will be able to safely return to their homes.

The situation remains under investigation, and additional inspections are expected before the properties can be cleared for occupancy.