US: drainage ditch collapsed in Richmond and grown to a depth of about 30 feet

[Andrey Eroshin]

16.05.12.

RICHMOND, Texas (AP) -- Heavy rain has been blamed for a Houston-area drainage ditch collapsing and becoming more of a quarter-mile gorge.

Flood control officials in Fort Bend County have started refilling part of the ditch in rural Richmond, amid concerns over an exposed gas pipeline.

Chief engineer Mark Vogler says the ditch has grown to a depth of about 30 feet and a width of 80 feet. Vogler says concrete barriers were used Tuesday to help shore up the site, which stretches about 1,700 feet.

Neighbors say the edges of the ditch began to slide after about 10 inches of rain fell on Saturday. A retaining wall and culvert gave way.

Resident Lindsey Witte says it's pretty overwhelming to see the collapse.

Richmond is 20 miles southwest of Houston.

http://www.weareaustin.com/news/top-stories/stories/vid_1709.shtml
http://blog.chron.com/newswatch/2012/05/growing-gorge-worries-neigh...

[Stra]

Holy cow! And look where it is, near the soon-to-be seaway, where the plates are pulling apart. Surprise? Not if you're reading Zetatalk.

Great find, Andrey!