A water filled sinkhole grows in Zacatapec, on the outskirts of Puebla, Mexico, Tuesday, June 1, 2021. The massive water-filled sinkhole continues swallowing farmers' fields in the central Mexican state of Puebla. Authorities say an underground river is responsible. (AP Photo/Pablo Spencer)
AP Photo/Pablo Spencer
Mexico_Sinkhole_41577 Curious onlookers try to get a glimpse of a water filled sinkhole in Zacatapec, on the outskirts of Puebla, Mexico, Wednesday, June 9, 2021. The massive water-filled sinkhole continues swallowing farmers' fields in the central Mexican state of Puebla. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
AP Photo/Fernando Llano
Mexico_Sinkhole_35285 A Mexican soldier stands on guard inside a security perimeter around a water filled sinkhole in Zacatapec, on the outskirts of Puebla, Mexico,Wednesday, June 9, 2021. The massive water-filled sinkhole continues swallowing farmers' fields in the central Mexican state of Puebla. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
AP Photo/Fernando Llano
Mexico_Sinkhole_39726 A woman climbs on a pile of bricks to get a glimpse of a water filled sinkhole in Zacatapec, on the outskirts of Puebla, Mexico, Wednesday, June 9, 2021. The massive water-filled sinkhole continues swallowing farmers' fields in the central Mexican state of Puebla.(AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
AP Photo/Fernando Llano
Mexico_Sinkhole_96344 Corn grows around a water filled sinkhole in Zacatapec, on the outskirts of Puebla, Mexico, Wednesday, June 9, 2021. The massive water-filled sinkhole continues swallowing farmers' fields in the central Mexican state of Puebla. Authorities say an underground river is responsible. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
AP Photo/Fernando Llano
Mexico_Sinkhole_04137 Courious onlookers try to take photos of a water filled sinkhole in Zacatapec, on the outskirts of Puebla, Mexico, Wednesday, June 9, 2021. The massive water-filled sinkhole continues swallowing farmers' fields in the central Mexican state of Puebla. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
AP Photo/Fernando Llano
Mexico_Sinkhole_23007 With the Popocatepetl volcano on the background, security personnel patrol the perimiter around a water filled sinkhole in Zacatapec, on the outskirts of Puebla, Mexico, Wednesday, June 9, 2021. The massive water-filled sinkhole continues swallowing farmers' fields in the central Mexican state of Puebla. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
AP Photo/Fernando Llano
Mexico_Sinkhole_98148 Cyclists take photos of a water filled sinkhole in Zacatapec, on the outskirts of Puebla, Mexico, Wednesday, June 9, 2021. The massive water-filled sinkhole continues swallowing farmers' fields in the central Mexican state of Puebla. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
AP Photo/Fernando Llano
Mexico_Sinkhole_92199 With the Iztaccíhuatl volcano in the background, security tape bars access in the perimeter around a water filled sinkhole in Zacatapec, on the outskirts of Puebla, Mexico, Wednesday, June 9, 2021. The massive water-filled sinkhole continues swallowing farmers' fields in the central Mexican state of Puebla. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
AP Photo/Fernando Llano
Mexico_Sinkhole_62283 Mexican fire fighters prepare for a routine inspection of a water filled sinkhole in Zacatapec, on the outskirts of Puebla, Mexico, Wednesday, June 9, 2021. The massive water-filled sinkhole continues swallowing farmers' fields in the central Mexican state of Puebla. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
AP Photo/Fernando Llano
Mexico_Sinkhole_45953 Peeple walk near a water filled sinkhole in Zacatapec, on the outskirts of Puebla, Mexico, Wednesday, June 9, 2021. The massive water-filled sinkhole continues swallowing farmers' fields in the central Mexican state of Puebla. Authorities say an underground river is responsible. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
AP Photo/Fernando Llano
Mexico_Sinkhole_16572 Dogs walk near a water filled sinkhole in Zacatapec, on the outskirts of Puebla, Mexico, Wednesday, June 9, 2021. The massive water-filled sinkhole continues swallowing farmers' fields in the central Mexican state of Puebla. Authorities say an underground river is responsible. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
AP Photo/Fernando Llano
Mexico_Sinkhole_25487 Onlookers and soldiers stand outside the safety perimeter of a water filled sinkhole in Zacatapec, on the outskirts of Puebla, Mexico, Wednesday, June 9, 2021. The massive water-filled sinkhole continues swallowing farmers' fields in the central Mexican state of Puebla. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
AP Photo/Fernando Llano
Mexico_Sinkhole_33265 A water filled sinkhole grows in Zacatapec, on the outskirts of Puebla, Mexico, Tuesday, June 1, 2021. The massive water-filled sinkhole continues swallowing farmers' fields in the central Mexican state of Puebla. (AP Photo/Pablo Spencer)
AP Photo/Pablo Spencer
APTOPIX_Mexico_Sinkhole_05018 A water-filled sinkhole grows on a farming field in Zacatapec, on the outskirts of Puebla, Mexico, Tuesday, June 1, 2021. Authorities say an underground river is responsible. (AP Photo/Pablo Spencer)
MEXICO CITY (AP) — A large sinkhole that appeared in late May at a farm in central Mexico has grown larger than a football field, begun swallowing a house and trapped two dogs in its depths.
The government of the central state of Puebla said late Thursday it had managed to pull the two dogs out of the sinkhole, after emotional requests from animal lovers to rescue them. They had been trapped for about four days on a ledge on the sheer sides of the hole dropping 50 feet (15 meters) to water.
Because the loose soil at the edges keeps collapsing into the water at the bottom of the pit, for days it was considered too dangerous to try to rescue the animals.
But on Thursday a firefighter descended into the pit, in part by using a ladder to steady the soil on the edge. His colleagues were seen standing farther back using ropes and a pulley system to haul up cages carrying the two dogs.
The state government distributed photos of the dogs, named Spay and Spike, looking alert and in the care of veterinarians.
The dogs were apparently playing in the farm field surrounding the sinkhole when they fell in.
The sinkhole is now over 400 feet (125 meters) across in some places, and may be 150 deep (45 meters) at its deepest point. It is hard to tell, because water fills the crater.
The Mexican government has sent in soldiers to keep people 2,000 feet (600 meters) away from the edge of the hole, which is 50 feet (15 meters) deep.
“It’s a very hard time for us. It hurts, because this is all that we have,” said Magdalena Xalamigua Xopillacle, whose brick and cinderblock house was slowly collapsing into the sinkhole. “At times we feel sick from so much sadness.”
Some residents believe the sinkhole is the result of excessive ground water extraction by factories or a water bottling plant in the area. But the bottom of the hole is filled with water that appears to have strong currents, and the national civil defense office said experts think it was caused by something like an underground river.
“It is highly probable that the origin is associated with the presence of subterranean water flows,” the office said.
Puebla Gov. Miguel Barbosa said experts are studying both possibilities, and if water extraction is the culprit, he would cancel any permits.
Citing a risk of further ground fractures, the office warned people to stay away from the site in the town of Zacatepec in Puebla state, east of Mexico City.
“This is not a tourist attraction, or a place to visit with your family,” the office said Wednesday.
Authorities have set up metal barriers and police tape to keep onlookers out, and has restricted flying drones over it.
