Sinkhole Opens After Wood Floor Removal, Swallows Minivan

Source: NBC 10 NewsAfter removal of a wood floor in the basement of a three-story building in Central Falls, R.I., 45 feet of the building’s foundation collapsed into a sinkhole that engulfed part of a minivan, according to NBC 10 News.

Central Falls Fire Chief Robert Bradley said people doing construction on the inside of the basement of the building on June 15 “removed the wood floor while excavating, somehow causing part of the foundation to crumble and partially collapse,” according to the report.

“And when they did that, approximately 45 feet of foundation on the left-hand side of the house washed out and came down,” Bradley said.

People were in the home on all three levels at the time of the collapse, but all were evacuated safely, and no injuries were reported from the incident.

The minivan was parked in the driveway next to the building; its right side became submerged in the sinkhole.

The building has been condemned until it can be deemed structurally sound enough to reenter.