Photo: Large sinkhole develops on North Carolina roadway

KINSTON, N.C. (WNCT) – Saturday’s heavy rainfall in Lenoir County caused a large sinkhole to develop overnight.

According to officials with the city of Kinston, the sinkhole is on Dunn Family Road, just northeast of the city. The road is maintained by NCDOT, but city crews are on scene surveying potential damage to city utilities.

In a Facebook post on Sunday morning, officials asked people to avoid the area and to stay alert to the potential for additional flash flooding on Sunday.

On Saturday, numerous neighborhoods throughout Kinston – namely east, northeast, and northwest areas of the city – saw high water due to heavy thunderstorms.

Lenoir County and Kinston officials will also be watching rising levels of the Neuse River in the coming days. The Neuse River at Kinston is expected to crest at a moderate flood stage later in the week, which could cause lowland flooding near the river.

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