Homes Evacuated in San Antonio as Retaining Walls Give Way

A soil shift in northwest San Antonio led to the evacuation of dozens of homes over fears that two retaining walls could collapse near widening gaps.

Engineers are trying to try to determine why the soil is giving way, leaving several homes with structural damage, near openings up to 15 feet deep.

About 200 people attended a meeting Jan. 24 with emergency personnel and representatives of builders.

Fire Department District Chief Nim Kidd, who’s also emergency management coordinator, says at least seven streets had to be closed. Kidd estimates the ground has been slipping at the rate of about 4 inches an hour.

Kidd says he “wouldn’t be surprised to wake up and see some of these homes broken and falling down part of the hill.”

The soil began giving way Jan. 22.