HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL -
Authorities said they have to demolish the house affected by the sinkhole in Seffner as the site is entirely unstable, the walls are hanging, they said.
"At this point we have to move... to demolition phase," said Hillsborough County Administrator Mike Merrill.
Merrill says it's not possible to recover Jeff Bush's body. He believes the demolition process will likely begin Sunday morning. They will be bringing heavy equipment to help with demolition, to reach in and take portions of the house out.
Hillsborough County Fire Rescue said both houses next to the home affected by the sinkhole in Seffner are compromised. Authorities helped the families living there evacuate Saturday.
"The main objective right now is the Bush home," Merrill said about the situation with those two houses.
Engineers described the sinkhole as slowly growing earlier Saturday. They are surprised the house is still standing. The walls are hanging, authorities said.
The sinkhole opened late Thursday evening under a house on Faithway Street in Seffner and swallowed Jeff Bush, 37, and everything that was in his room. His brother Jeremy tried to rescue him, but almost got sucked into the hole himself. Deputy Duvall with HCSO, the first responder on scene, saved him.
The other family members who were in the house at that time, were unharmed. They are in a hotel now.
"If there was any way possible that they would have rescued this individual, they would have," said Merrill about Jeff Bush.
Jeremy Bush came to the house this morning with flowers and a plush toy. He put them in front of the house.
Public and private agencies are trying to help the family with anything they can.
"Not sure what all the needs are yet but we are providing a hotel room for two nights and Publix gift cards while they deal with the immediate state of emergency," said Rich Strehl, executive director of Brandon Foundation.
Sinkhole are not rare in Florida, according to Florida Geological Survey. Largo Police responded to a call about a small sinkhole at a Largo parking lot Saturday morning. Nobody was injured there.
If you would like to donate to the affected families of the sinkhole in Seffner, Fl go to www.firefighter-relief.com
Stay with wfla.com with more on this.
