There are renewed fears for the three families in Lehigh County  forced out of their homes by a giant sinkhole.  On Wednesday, they were told they might be back in to their Hanover Township homes by the holidays.  However, Thursday morning, a second, giant sinkhole opened up in their back yard.

The problems began Monday morning with a water main break.  Then, homeowners on Irma Drive noticed a sinkhole.  The Township ordered three families to leave their homes.

All three say they have a place to stay and were trying to live as normally as possible while the first hole was fixed.  Joanie Smith said, "Well, this morning we got up and we were getting started on our day and my husband got a message on his phone that the backyard opened up, that our fence was caving in, that there was a hole that opened in our yard."

They came home to see the new hole- at least 10 feet deep.  Joanie's husband, Michael, said, "So we're pretty concerned that this has gone from the front yard to the back yard and what's going on underneath our house."

Engineers spent the day trying to figure that out too.  They blasted the second sinkhole with water to try to see how deep it is  and where it goes. They also drilled holes through the floor inside one home to see what's underneath.

"I'm worried," said Joanie Smith about the home they've lived in for 28 years.

Wendy Almanzar and her fiancée are another one of the families forced out.  She said, "It's pretty scary because you think finally they are getting everything fixed for you, then all of a sudden another hole pops up."

Crews said they're not sure when the sinkhole might be filled or when the residents will be allowed back in.