Florida Sinkhole News Brief – August 2025

On the afternoon of August 25, a substantial sinkhole opened on U.S. Highway 90 East near Dowling Avenue in Live Oak, Suwannee County.
Live Oak Police and city public works responded quickly, capturing the initial depression and subsequent collapse on video. The event unfolded around 3:45 p.m., prompting an immediate road closure.
Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and city crews worked through the night, filling the hole and installing a metal plate to restore traffic by the next morning.
The cause remains under investigation, but chronic groundwater overpumping and increasingly intense rainfall are cited as likely contributors. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection issued a formal pollution notice for the incident.
The episode underscores the region’s vulnerability to sinkholes, with local authorities balancing rapid emergency response and the need for long-term infrastructure solutions.

Sources: WWALS Watershed Coalition | Riverbend News | WCJB

Heavy rainfall in late July triggered a new series of sinkholes in the Ocala Preserve community, northwest Ocala—less than a year after four sinkholes displaced residents following Hurricane Derby in August 2024.
Residents described water pooling in drainage areas, forming a “mini lake” that suddenly vanished, revealing the underlying collapse. The National Weather Service reported multiple inches of rain in the weeks prior.
Geologists point to the classic Florida process: rainwater seeps through soil, reacts with vegetation and carbon dioxide, and becomes slightly acidic. This dissolves underground limestone, creating voids that eventually give way.
Ocala Preserve, built by D.R. Horton, is emblematic of rapid development in the region. Recurring sinkholes have raised questions about drainage design and infrastructure resilience in new communities.
The recurrence has left residents wary and local officials under pressure to review construction practices and long-term water management.

Source: Ocala-News.com

A massive sinkhole—at least 15 feet deep and 30 feet wide—opened at the intersection of Beal Parkway and Mary Esther Cutoff, closing northbound lanes and downing power lines.
Police directed traffic around the hazard, and motorists were urged to avoid the area. The disruption extended for more than a quarter mile, impacting access to small businesses and causing a sharp drop in customer traffic.
Eyewitnesses described water “shooting out” of the drainage system moments before the collapse, fueling speculation about infrastructure failure or faulty culvert connections.
Construction crews responded within hours, but as of late August, no timeline for full repairs had been announced. The Florida Department of Transportation is leading the investigation and repair effort.
The event has sparked public scrutiny of inspection and construction practices, as well as broader concern about the resilience of critical roadways in the face of extreme weather and aging infrastructure.

Sources: Get The Coast | WEAR-TV

Sponser Ads

On August 5, a sinkhole blocked the intersection at 1700 Turkey Oak Drive in Navarre, Santa Rosa County, prompting an immediate road closure and official warnings for motorists to use caution in the area.
The county’s alert system flagged the closure, and repairs are pending. No injuries or property damage were reported in the initial alert, but the event fits a pattern of late-summer sinkhole activity across the region.
Local government response has focused on prompt communication and traffic management, with ongoing monitoring for additional ground instability.

Source: Santa Rosa County Alert Center