Seattle's Sink Hole #97

China Town in Seattle, also known as the International District, is about 12 square blocks in the southeast part of Seattle. The entrance has a huge Chinese gate over the four-lane street going into it. It is home to many Asian shops of all kinds.

One morning driving into work about 6:30 am Detective Rage hears a call for patrol cars near China Town. She will drive pass it and responds to the request. Traffic is so congested she drives her jeep up on the sidewalk to get closer to the problem. She dresses in her traffic control gear, grabs a large set of yellow cones, and races up to an officer trying to direct and clear the traffic around the entrance to China Town.
She asks, “Shall I close 4th ave. and send them up 3td.”
“Yes, I have more support coming.”
Returning to her jeep, she directs several officers to do so and returns to the officer at the heart of the problem.

Going deeper into China Town she finds a huge hole where there use to be a 4-lane street. The only thing remaining are the sidewalks in front of several buildings.
The officer there is trying to direct foot traffic out of the area. Rage says she will help clear the buildings next to or close to the hole. Her quick glance shows the hole to be maybe 40 feet deep. Several other officers join her, as they go around the back of the buildings to gain entrance. She shoots open or kicks doors open to gain access. They clear all the buildings on both sides of the hole and then for several more blocks.
Seattle engineers are on their phone trying to get the word out for supplies and people. Few people believe what they are asking for. The Mayor finally walks to the hole and never gets to close. In several hours there are engineers from many places to see if they can help.
An older UW engineer becomes the self-appointed project leader. He gathers up everyone up and goes to the UW to put order into the solving of this problem. Meanwhile the police and fire departments have firm control of the site and laid tape all over the area to control access. Lights are being placed so the area will be as bright as the day when the sun shines in Seattle. One item is apparent, the large pipes are just hanging about 10 feet below the street level, side wall to side wall. How long before they sag and break?

The entire Seattle area for miles was under 3,000 feet of ice, when it melted, it just dropped whatever it was carrying. That what is dropped is called Till. This soil has never had a sink hole reported.
The people at the UW have groups looking into sink holes, ground water in Seattle, ground faults in King County, Indian legends and folklore, and a catch all group for any other possibilities.
Someone mentioned GPR, Ground Penetrating Radar. The groups grab this and hope it will help. The Mayor plans on riding this to his next election.
There are still many issues: Will the hole continue to grow, will it grow in three directions when it gets to an intersection, why has the sidewalks not fallen into the hole, when will the sagging sewer pipes fall and cause a health issue, when will more holes appear and start to eat buildings?
Even Detective Rage and her Colts maybe no match for this hole or holes?