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Authorities Cancel Search for Florida Man who Fell Down Sinkhole from Bedroom

By Jennifer Broderick | Update Date: Mar 02, 2013 08:36 PM EST

The search for the Florida victim, who was swallowed by a sinkhole that appeared under his bedroom, has been called off, according to NBC news. Authorities plan to demolish the house tomorrow.

Jeff Bush, 36, who is presumed dead, was asleep when the floor of his bedroom gave in and he collapsed underground. The five members of the household, including his brother, were getting ready for bed on Thursday night heard a loud crash and Jeff screaming.

 "Unfortunately we have not been able to determine the whereabouts of Mr. Bush," Hillsborough County Administrator Mike Merrill said. "With all the equipment that we brought in and specialized help, we have just not been able to locate Mr. Bush, and so for that reason the rescue effort is being discontinued."

"At this point it's really not possible to recover the body," Mr. Merrill said, later adding "we're dealing with a very unusual sinkhole."

The sinkhole also has compromised the house next door, officials said Saturday. Demolition of the house would begin on Sunday.

According to the New York Times, thousands of sinkholes erupt yearly in Florida because of the state's unique geography, though deaths rarely occur. Florida is susceptible to sinkholes as it sits on limestone, a porous rock that easily dissolves in water, with a layer of clay on top. The clay is thicker in some locations, which makes them even more prone to sinkholes.

Florida's geological makeup increases the likelihood of sinkholes, and more than 500 have been reported in Hillsborough County since 1954, the state's environmental agency told the Associated Press. A huge 400-foot sinkhole that sucked in a house, five sports cars, two businesses and part of a swimming pool appeared near Orlando in 1981.

Meanwhile, authorities urged a family that lived across from Bush's home to evacuate. They began moving their possessions out on Saturday afternoon as authorities continue to investigate just how large the sinkhole is.

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