Sinkhole opens up on White House lawns and everyone's got an explanation
A sinkhole has opened up on the North Lawn of the White House and is reportedly "growing larger by the day," according to reporters who spotted the sunken ground while on their way for a briefing. A National Park Service (NPS) spokesperson, on Tuesday evening, said that the sinkhole was spotted on Sunday near the entrance to the press briefing room. The NPS reportedly oversees the White House grounds.
Although the pictures of the sinkhole do not appear more than a few feet wide, a White House reporter, Steve Herman of Voice of America, on Monday tweeted that it had grown in size since he first spotted it over the weekend. The reporter also added that another sinkhole seems to have opened right next to it.
NPS spokeswoman, Jenny Anzelmo-Sarles, said that sinkholes — which are formed when water erodes the earth's surface layer — are common in the D.C. area after heavy rain. She added that NPS is currently monitoring the sinkhole and evaluating how to respond to the situation.
"We do not believe it poses any risk to the White House or is representative of a larger problem," Anzelmo-Sarles added.
Reports state that a sinkhole had also opened up a year ago in front of President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. That particular sinkhole was formed because of a water main, according to Palm Beach officials.
The news of a sinkhole opening up at the White House had the Twiteratti debating about the meaning behind it and many took jibes at the president reiterating his "drain the swamp" comment.
Reports state that the sinkhole even has its own parody account on Twitter now.
"Can neither confirm nor deny I am the hole dug from China #sinkhole #WhiteHouse #whitehousesinkhole," The White House Sinkhole wrote in a tweet.