A massive sinkhole that went viral in 2013 for swallowing trees in Assumption Parish and forcing more than 300 residents from their homes has quieted down as officials slowly allow residents to come home.
The Associated Press reports that Assumption Parish Government officials say the sinkhole, located in Bayou Corne about 30 miles northwest of Thibodaux, grown expanded by 1 1/2 to 2 feet since last year. It’s now up to about 35 acres.
Seismic testing has shown decreasing action over the last year. Previous tests have indicated that there are no further voids that would cause another sinkhole in the area. Other scientific modeling has suggested the hole will not reach the nearby highway or the Bayou Corne waterway.
The increased stability has led the parish government to slowly change mandatory evacuation orders to voluntary evacuations in some areas. So far, one eastern section with a few homes and a northwestern section near La. 70 have have seen the status change. Assumption Parish Director of Emergency Operations says he expects more sections to become voluntary evacuation areas by the end of the year.
The sinkhole was caused by a failed brine cavern Texas Brine mined in the Napoleonville Salt Dome. Salt domes are naturally occurring deposits of salt, which can span for miles and stretch thousands of feet below ground.
Texas Brine was originally blamed for the sinkhole, but the company recently filed a $100 million lawsuit against Occidental Petroleum Corp., claiming their irresponsible drilling near the dome is to blame. Last year, Texas Brine agreed to a $48.1 million class-action settlement for about 269 residents involved with about 100 properties in the tiny bayou neighborhood.
