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Photo by:nationalgeographic

Photo by:nationalgeographic

Photo by:nationalgeographic

Photo by:nationalgeographic

The appearance of a massive sinkhole in Guatemala City (map), Guatemala,on Sunday is thought to have been triggered by tropical storm Agatha, aviolent tempest that struck Central America over the weekend.

Fromphotographs, the new Guatemala sinkhole appears to be about 60 feet (18meters) wide and about 300 feet (100 meters) deep, said James Currens,a hydrogeologist at the University of Kentucky—which explains how thesinkhole was reportedly able to swallow an entire three-story building.

Sinkholescan form when water-saturated soil and other particles become too heavyand cause the roofs of existing voids in the soil to collapse, Currenssaid.

Another way sinkholes can form is if water enlarges anatural fracture in a limestone bedrock layer. As the crack getsbigger, the topsoil gently slumps and develops into a sinkhole.

In either case, the final collapse can be sudden, Currens said.

—Ker Than