Some said it sounded like a huge thunderstorm. Others said it was like snapping popcorn. But one thing is for sure. The 100-foot sinkhole in Florida awakened all vacationers at the Summer Bay Resort in Orlando, Florida.

It was early Monday when one-third of the Summer Bay Resort structure went into total collapse. Good thing that no injuries were reported as 105 guests were evacuated along with those staying in the nearby buildings. However, the bad news is that a total of 24 three-story units were reported as loss.

Inspectors assigned on the scene remained on location up until the afternoon of the same day to be sure if the rest of the other buildings near the sinkhole are already safe to enter.

It was on a Sunday night when security guard Richard Shanley got reports from guests that their windows were popping out. He said that the entire building seemed to sink for about 10 to 20 inches deep with banisters falling apart. This is where he was credited as hero when he decided to break through doors just to wake up the guests and save lives. According to Mr Shanely, the evacuation lasted for nearly 10 to 15 minutes.

Other guests like Maggie Moreno from San Antonio remembers the sinkhole sounding like 'popcorn.' Amy Jedele, along with her fiancé Darren Gade, also heard a lot of popping sounds and later realised it was actually metals, concrete and glass breaking apart. According to Mr Gade, it was the elevator shaft and the walkways that started sinking.

Sinkholes in Florida Are Common?

Due to the porous geological composition of the state's bedrock, sinkholes in Florida are common to happen. Acidic rainwater dissolves the rocks which cause instant erosion and can lead up to the underground caverns and result to a humongous collapse of a sinkhole.

It was just last March when a similar case of sinkhole in Florida happened around the Tampa area and swallowed an entire bedroom. And then way back in 1981, a 320-feet wide sinkhole ate a two-storey house. The actual site was converted into an artificial lake after the incident.

As with this recent Florida sinkhole incident in Summer Bay Resort, all the affected guests were given new rooms and even cash advances for those who left their wallets from the evacuation. Red Cross was also there to distribute food, medicines and other stuff for those who left their other belongings at the sinkhole too.

Check out exclusive and shocking photos of the recent sinkhole in Florida in the slideshow!

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