13-Storey Building in Chile Suddenly Swallowed by the Earth

SANTIAGO – Heavy rain hit Chili over the past few days has caused a giant sinkhole to form beneath a luxury property in the resort town of Vina del Mar, forcing hundreds of residents to evacuate.

The 13-story building housing 200 apartments costing USD 500,000 each now sits atop a hole 15 meters long and 30 meters deep. This is the latest sinkhole to form in the region in less than a year.

Among the few residents who have not moved out of the Euromarina II apartment building is Sergio Silva.

Silva, 77, said he was trying to move some of his belongings to a safer place because more rain was forecast.

“We only take important items,” he told AFP.

Residents of several other buildings under Euromarina II have also evacuated their homes for fear of collapse.

“A number of residents moved as a precaution. “Those of us who are still here are preparing in case an emergency occurs or we have to move,” said one of the residents of the Eurovista apartment building, Claudio Camus, 43.

The building stands under Euromarina II.

The luxury property is located on 28 hectares of land which before 1984 was part of a national animal sanctuary.

(wbs)