HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A precautionary evacuation was ordered following a ‘ground collapse’ at a Memorial-area condo community.
Houston Fire Department (HFD) crews responded to the incident at 405 Sutherland Terrace Place around 8:30 a.m.
spoke with a man whose parents were inside the affected home. He described how the house started shaking, and when his parents looked outside, they saw a giant hole in front of their home.
Nearby resident Rick Mckee expressed his shock, saying, “That’s a big hole. That’s a really big hole.”
The department shared images of the collapse on social media.
@HoustonFire is currently on scene at 405 Sutherland Terrace Place due to a ground collapse. No one was injured. 8 homes were evacuated as a precaution. Building engineers are on location assessing the damage. pic.twitter.com/0efmNl3tBo
— Houston Fire Dept (@HoustonFire) July 27, 2024
HFD reported that eight homes were evacuated as a precaution.
HFD Captain Beau Moreno explained that the collapse was caused by a cistern designed to hold flood water, which failed catastrophically due to the heavy rain in the area.
No injuries were reported.
Building engineers are currently assessing the damage. Moreno clarified, “It’s not a sinkhole. This is definitely a man-made structure under the ground designed to hold flood water in this area.”
Since the collapse occurred on private property, Houston Public Works stated that the community is responsible for repairs. The neighborhood is part of Memorial Green Homes.
reached out to the community contact point but is still awaiting a response.
