Massive hole opens near Apopka middle school after Hurricane Irma

A massive rift opened up near Apopka Memorial Middle School Wednesday morning that officials are blaming on storm water from Hurricane Irma.

Apopka officials said on Facebook that a very large hole in the ground opened up behind the school and cut into sections of the West Orange Trail. The hole, which is north of Votaw Road and south of McCoy Village Court, can be seen on a aerial video released by the city. People are being warned to stay away from the area.

City officials were not clear on whether it's a sinkhole or it's caused by erosion over a drainage ditch, though an Orange County Public Schools spokesperson told the Orlando Sentinel the hole opened after a storm drain pipe collapsed. The district plans to fence off the hole before students return to school next week, the Sentinel reports.