An Italian hospital remained on reserve power on Sunday, two days after a giant sinkhole was opened in the parking lot and forced the closure of a residence for patients recovering from COVID-19.
Although the electricity and water services were interrupted, the backup systems allowed the service to continue at the Naples Sea Hospital, and the firefighters said it didn’t look like anyone was injured. The regional governor, Vincenzo De Luca, said the residence will be reopened after public services are fully restored.
The 66-foot-deep, 21,527-square-foot sink consumed three cars in the hospital’s almost empty visitor parking lot, and also forced the relocation of six people who were recovering at the COVID-19 patient home.
“Frankly, we were also concerned about the collapse of all public services and that the hospital’s activity could be hampered,” said De Luca. “Thank God that didn’t happen. We had a power cut, but the electricity was restored and now we have no problem with it. “
Video: Golden retriever is rescued from a 12-meter sinkhole
Commander of the fire chief. Ennio Aquilino told Italian television channel SkyTG 24 that the implosion may have been caused by an infiltration of water underground as a result of recent heavy rains.
Holes are mostly natural occurrences, according to the US Geological Survey. They can be dramatic or happen over time. They can also be “man-induced” by building and pumping groundwater, says the USGS.
Although a 66-foot-deep sink looks catastrophic, it is only a fraction of the depth of the largest above-ground sink in the world. This sinkhole is 2,100 feet deep, found in 1994 in a Chinese province.
Contributing: The Associated Press.
This article was originally published in USA TODAY: Italian well in hospital parking lot stops treatment with COVID-19