Donna Kane, a resident near Dawson Creek, B.C., experienced a frightening ordeal when the ground beneath her gave way while she was staining her deck on a windy April afternoon. The earth collapsed, and Kane fell into an old, water-filled septic tank measuring approximately six by twelve by seven feet.
Though the tank still contained icy water, it was thankfully no longer contaminated. Unable to climb out, Kane managed to hold onto the edge of the hole and a chair leg she pulled down, using it like a monkey bar to keep her head above water and avoid drowning. After about 20 minutes, her husband Wayne heard her muffled screams, came to her rescue, and she was safely pulled out.
Kane revealed that a small depression had been noticed in the ground over the years but was never considered a hazard. The dry soil conditions—caused by a prolonged Level 4 drought in the region—likely weakened the clay soil, causing it to crumble and collapse unexpectedly. Experts warn that such dry clay soils shrink and crack, potentially damaging infrastructure and creating hidden dangers on rural properties.
After the incident, Kane and her husband filled in the septic tank hole with dirt and rocks. She continues to be cautious on uneven ground around her property, mindful that others could face similar risks from buried structures weakened by drought conditions.
Source: Swifteradio.com
