Badian sinkhole getting bigger

CEBU, Philippines - The sinkhole found in Barangay Banhigan last Thursday became bigger yesterday, according to Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator Adelberto Bruce.

Bruce said the sinkhole reached 11.5 in diameter yesterday with an area of 210 square meters and a depth of six meters. It was only six diameters when found Thursday.

So far, only one family living within the 70-meter was told to evacuate yesterday but Dr. Eddie Llamedo, spokesperson of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, said they have declared a no-build zone around the 100-meter radius for safety purposes.

Llamedo said they are awaiting the result of the ground-penetrating radar survey to be endorsed to the central office.

“We need to determine the exact deepness of the sinkhole, its diameter, and if there are other sinkholes nearby kay naay possibility duna pa gyud nay lain pero diha lang dapita ang nag-caved in,” Llamedo said in a phone interview.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau-7 issued a ground subsidence threat advisory since Thursday to Badian Mayor Rubert Librando.

Llamedo explained it is possible that there is a river system underneath the soil and that the intense rainfall caused by tropical depression Queenie weakened the crown or surface of the soil causing it to liquefy. This might have eventually led to oversaturation and eventually caved in, forming a sinkhole.

The type of soil also is classified as marl made of limestone and clay, which absorbs water easily and oversaturate. This kind of soil may collapse due to rains and earthquakes.

The sinkhole was found by a resident early morning Thursday after hearing a loud sound.

Two barangay tanods guard the sinkhole, which remains off limits. — Ria Mae Y. Booc/JMO (FREEMAN)