Sinkhole appears to be slowing

Geologists said a 260-foot-deep sinkhole in Texas that grew to the length of three football fields over just two days seemed to be slowing down. But it could take months before it’s clear whether surrounding areas are stable, they said.

The 900-foot-long sinkhole, with crumbling dirt around its edges resembling sharp teeth, has swallowed up oil tanks and barrels, tires, telephone poles and several vehicles in Daisetta, an oil town of about 1,000 residents about 60 miles northeast of Houston.

The mixture of oil and mud at the bottom of the sinkhole made it look like a tar pit.

Residents had feared that the sinkhole, which began Wednesday, would continue to grow rapidly. But local officials and geologists said they were confident it had slowed. “We feel a whole lot better today,” said Tom Branch, coordinator of the Liberty County Office of Emergency Management.