Identifying sinkholes. Sinkholes are the result of water collecting underground without some sort of external drainage mechanism. As the water collects, it erodes the bedrock and creates underground spaces. (Photo: Helicon)

Some sinkholes may develop without warning, while there may be several signs before others develop. Those occurring on the outskirts of a commercial property may go unnoticed and create specific structural issues for buildings.

Ruptured sewer lines contribute to some urban sinkholes, but generally they are a naturally recurring phenomenon characterized by sudden settlement or collapse of land. They usually occur when underground water or seismic activity creates voids or chasms underneath the surface of the earth. When topsoil becomes heavy with rainwater, is subject to some other stressor, or there is gradual groundwater erosion, the surface collapses into the void, and a sinkhole forms and swallows whatever was sitting on top of it.

Want to continue reading?
Become a Free PropertyCasualty360 Digital Reader

Your access to unlimited PropertyCasualty360 content isn’t changing.
Once you are an ALM digital member, you’ll receive:

  • Breaking insurance news and analysis, on-site and via our newsletters and custom alerts
  • Weekly Insurance Speak podcast featuring exclusive interviews with industry leaders
  • Educational webcasts, white papers, and ebooks from industry thought leaders
  • Critical converage of the employee benefits and financial advisory markets on our other ALM sites, BenefitsPRO and ThinkAdvisor
NOT FOR REPRINT

© 2025 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.

Commercial Lines
Personal Lines
Catastrophe & Restoration
Investigative & Forensics
Commercial Lines
E&S/Specialty
Personal Lines
Public Sector Risk