What is a magnetic hill? Kuya Kim explains

Have you ever heard of a magnetic hill?

A police officer was caught by surprise when his car moved on its own while the engine was turned off on an uphill road in Floridablanca, Pampanga.

"May humihila sa kotse, parang hiwaga ng kalsada dito. Di ko ma-explain eh, natakot kami eh," said Noel Santos, who recorded a video of the incident.

("Something pulled the car, it's like magic on the road. I couldn't explain it, we were afraid.")

According to Kuya Kim on Friday's "24 Oras," magnetic hills don't really have magnetic force moving objects above it.

What happens is an optical illusion—it seems like you're going uphill when you're really going downhill.

Magnetic hills, also called mystery hills and gravity hills, are usually in areas with natural landscapes and no buildings. They're not very long or wide.

In the Philippines, there are several known magnetic hills: Nasugbu-Ternate Road in Cavite, Mt. Makiling Jamboree Road, Los Baños, Laguna, and Bacolod-San Carlos Road in Negros Occidental.

As for the road in Floridablanca, the barangay and Municipal Engineering Office are still investigating to confirm the elevation.

The most popular magnetic hill in the world is located in Ladakh in Northern India. It is famous not just for its "gravity-defying" characteristics but also for the beautiful scenery it offers for visitors.

—MGP, GMA News