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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; A city woman miraculously escaped with only bumps and bruises Sunday when she was swallowed by a hole that opened suddenly in the backyard of her Bowman Street home.</p><p>Rhonda Martini, 52, said she was taking advantage of the nice weather to do some gardening work when she struck a spot in the dirt with a pitchfork and a hole opened up beneath her feet.</p><p>&#8220;I was literally dangling in a hole, hanging by my elbows screaming for help,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I just knew I couldn&#8217;t touch bottom, and my elbows were the only thing keeping me up.&#8221;</p><p>After her daughter helped get her out of the hole, Martini called 911 and fire officials sectioned off the hole using caution tape. Martini said she only sustained bumps and bruises from falling in the hole and declined medical attention.</p><p>Officials from the Department of Environmental Protection were later sent to the home to assess any potential danger. DEP spokeswoman Colleen Connolly said Monday that officials have not yet determined if the hole was the result of a mine subsidence and that <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/uncategorized/9019/officials-historians-talk-about-mine-subsidence-in-northeastern-pennsylvania" target="_blank">data is still being collected on old mines in the area</a>.</p><p>&#8220;At this point, we don&#8217;t have any reason to believe there&#8217;s imminent danger,&#8221; Connolly said.</p><p>Martini said that trailers on an adjoining lot had to be moved as a result of the hole opening.</p><p>&#8220;That&#8217;s all hollow over there, too,&#8221; Martini said.</p><p>Martini&#8217;s neighbor, 55-year-old Doreen Shutz, called the ordeal &#8220;scary&#8221; and hoped officials would determine what caused the hole to appear.</p><p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t know if any of us are safe,&#8221; she said of her neigbors.</p><p>While Martini didn&#8217;t receive significant injuries in the fall, she woke up screaming three times that night. &#8220;I had nightmares all night,&#8221; she said.</p><p>Connolly urged other residents in the area to contact 911 or DEP if they notice any new cracks or shifts in the foundations of their homes.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_TTL062116hole1CMYK-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">A hole in Rhonda Martini&#8217;s backyard opened up beneath her as she worked in her garden Sunday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_TTL062116hole1CMYK-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>A hole in Rhonda Martini&#8217;s backyard opened up beneath her as she worked in her garden Sunday. </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_TTL062116hole2CMYK-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Rhonda Martini shows where she fell into a hole that opened suddenly in her backyard Sunday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_TTL062116hole2CMYK-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>Rhonda Martini shows where she fell into a hole that opened suddenly in her backyard Sunday. </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_TTL062116hole2-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Rhonda Martini shows where she fell into a hole that opened suddenly in her backyard Sunday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_TTL062116hole2-2.jpg</photo2><caption2>Rhonda Martini shows where she fell into a hole that opened suddenly in her backyard Sunday. </caption2><photoCredit2>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader photo </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_TTL062116hole1-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">A hole in Rhonda Martini&#8217;s backyard opened up beneath her as she worked in her garden Sunday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_TTL062116hole1-2.jpg</photo3><caption3>A hole in Rhonda Martini&#8217;s backyard opened up beneath her as she worked in her garden Sunday. </caption3><photoCredit3>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader photo </photoCredit3></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Travis Kellar</p><p>tkellar@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Travis Kellar at 570-991-6389 or on Twitter @TLNews</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Wilkes-Barre woman swallowed by hole, escapes without injury