Sinkhole devours California zoo's entrance after historic storm
The Oakland Zoo must close for weeks while crews rebuild the entrance after a massive sink hole devoured it during the atmospheric river storm.
Sinkhole closes Oakland Zoo after historic storm
KTVU FOX 2 takes us to the Oakland Zoo in the San Francisco Bay Area where atmospheric river-fueled rains caused a massive sinkhole to destroy the entrance. None of the animals were harmed.
OAKLAND, Calif - The Oakland Zoo, in the San Francisco Bay Area, will be shut until mid-January or later due to a huge sinkhole that may grow larger and more obstructive with rainstorms forecast for the Bay Area this week.
The sinkhole appeared at the zoo's entrance along Golf Links Road after a culvert collapsed, the zoo said Sunday on Twitter. The culvert runs beneath the road at the entrance and connects to the Arroyo Viejo Creek.
Photos and video showed a gaping chasm, measuring 10 feet by 10 feet, that "is impassable to vehicles," the zoo said.
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The Oakland Zoo's entrance collapsed under a huge sinkhole that opened up during the atmospheric river storm.
(KTVU FOX 2)
"We are obviously really disappointed. The public is going to be disappointed," said Oakland Zoo CEO Nik Dehejia.
Dehejia said the Arroyo Creek runs through part of zoo property, and a culvert under the road was overwhelmed during the storm.
"With the incredible speed and volume of the water it literally collapsed some of the culvert itself and resulted in a collapse of asphalt over it," said Dehejia.
The zoo says it will be closed until January 17 or later. Getting materials and making the repairs could take two weeks or longer, the zoo was told by engineers.
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While the animals remain safe, the sinkhole took out the entrance drive and many footpaths leading to the exhibits.
(KTVU FOX 2)
"Most importantly, the animals are safe," said Dehejia. "But now we have to assess the property damage and we gotta clean up. There’s mud on the pathways and in the parking lot. It’s been pretty extreme."
The storms forecast for this week may make the situation worse with the sinkhole.
The heavy rains up to New Year's Eve inflicted significant damage to other areas of the zoo's campus in the East Oakland hills.
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The same creek that caused the zoo's entrance to collapse also eroded away a bike lane are part of the road in nearby Castro Valley, California.
(KTVU FOX 2)
Buildings were flooded, the electricity went out several times, eucalyptus trees fell and there was soil erosion, the zoo said.
Luckily, no animals were injured.