Officials have been watching for more than a year as a sinkhole expands and engulfs land, swamp, and threatens homes. On Wednesday, the massive sinkhole expanded in a dramatic way, swallowing trees and causing turmoil in the local community.

The sinkhole, discovered Aug. 3, 2012, resulted from a collapsed underground salt dome cavern about 40 miles south of Baton Rouge. After oil and natural gas came oozing up and acres of the swampland liquefied into muck, the community's 350 residents were advised to evacuate.

John Boudreaux, director of emergency preparedness for Assumption Parish, witnessed a "burp" (a small disturbance on the surface) after lunch on Wednesday and knew it could signal something bigger.

"I saw some increased bubble activity, so I called my counterparts to meet me out there," he said.

With the camera rolling, Boudreaux captured the moment when stories-tall trees sank into the water. Due to the experience of witnessing similar events, Boudreaux said he was confident his filming spot was a safe distance from the sinking trees and water.

The hole has grown as large as 25 acres in size, and the problems might not be resolved for another three years, Boudreaux said.