POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Crews in Polk County are using a mixture of clay and sand to fill a sinkhole that opened up in a resident's front yard over the weekend.

The 60-foot deep, 20-feet wide hole opened up Saturday morning in Highland City. Officials said they are still investigating why it opened but said it has doubled in size.

“It was loud. We could feel dirt falling in," said Paul Womble, director of Emergency Management in Polk County. "It was loud, and as Floridians, that’s as close as we will get to an earthquake. It's been stable for 24 hours now.”

Neighbors tell Spectrum Bay News 9 that the family living at the home moved in three months ago with their child. A resident three houses down said it wasn't just a surprise for the homeowners but also for the long-time residents living here. That includes Wilber E. Burt Jr., a retired bus driver who flips furniture.

"There’s never been a sinkhole in any of these houses," he said. "Then all of a sudden, boom, one shows up. I just hope when they seal it, it stays sealed."

The Polk County Emergency Management Director says the county is prone to sinkholes, and as soon as it's safe, the family living here can return home. (Spectrum Bay News 9/Julia Hazel)

He and his wife Shelley have lived here almost 20 years and said they've never seen anything like it — and hope it never happens to them.

“Every yard around here is just sand, so you never know,” he said.

Burt talked to the family Tuesday about what happened.

“You could see it on his face, the way he was talking, it bothered him," he said. "And looking at his little daughter, what do you say? 'You can only play in the backyard, only not the front.' That’s terrible for a little kid.” 

He says he will be there for the family if they need anything because he says the people in this neighborhood treat each other like family.

“All these people here will help them out if they need anything,” he said.

Womble says Polk County is prone to sinkholes, and as soon as it's safe, the family can return home.