The Daisetta Sinkhole Is Now Six Football Fields Wide

The sinkhole in Daisetta is now as wide as six football fields and more than two hundred feet deep, and while it has left a big void in the earth, it's also leaving a void in the pocketbooks of some employees who work in the area.

People working in Daisetta, off Farm Road 770, first saw the sinkhole Wednesday morning.

Experts believe a cavern holding a mixture of oil and brine collapsed and caused the sinkhole to develop.

Thin caution tape is the only thing separating the public from a sinkhole that has expanded to a diameter of 6 football fields and the depth of a tall building .

On the other side of the tape are members of  the media, curious onlookers and employees of the oil and gas company that saw much of its property swallowed by the sinkhole about a quarter of a mile down Farm Road 770.

"That's an income to our town," said Alene Kudro.  "It helps keep our town up.  Without that, we don't have nothing," said Kudro.

Without Deloach Industries, Alene Kudro's husband will have to find another job.  Mr. Kudro was supposed to go to work tonight, but he can't get in touch with the company.

"It would be nice if they let us know when the people have to go back to work," said Kudro.

 The Kudros have been waiting two hours for his paycheck.  Every Thursday is payday, but they can't get to the Deloach property to pick up his check.

 "It's tough, but when you work for something and it's rightfully yours, you should be able to get it when your supposed to get it," said Kudro.

Deloach Industries has employed hundreds of people in Daisetta since the early 1900's.

"Our heartfelt concerns go out to him and his employees," said Mayor Lynn Wells.

Today the sinkhole is about six hundred yards across and more than 200 feet deep.  At the bottomis a black mix of mud, water and oil field sludge.  A geologist says he's never seen a sinkhole this large.

"Ah yes, yes this is, it definitely is, it's pretty phenomenal," said geologist Richard Howe. 

 But families like the Kudros don't have time to be impressed with the size.  They're just hoping the sinkhole doesn't put them out of work.