Cebu barangay under state of calamity due to sinkhole

A barangay in Cebu was placed under state of calamity following the discovery of a sinkhole in the area over the weekend, a television report said Wednesday.

A report on GMA News TV's News To Go said residents of Barangay Langub in Kinatarkan Island of Sta. Fe town are still not allowed to return to their houses.

 

Some 45 families were evacuated over the weekend because of the sinkhole, which was discovered Saturday and started residents there, the report said.

 

The sinkhole, which has been cordoned off as danger area, measured 40 by 40 feet, parts of it go from 11 to 17 feet deep. It also caused the land near the houses to give in, the News to Go report added. 

 

On Monday, barangay officials said they wanted state of calamity declared in order to facilitate the release of relief funds.

 

According to a separate report by GMA Cebu's Nikko Sereno on Tuesday, this sinkhole could just be one of the many on Kinatarkan Island, as indicated in a topographic map of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB). 

 

Authorities there are looking into whether the rainy weather was a factor in the formation of the sinkhole, it added.

 

Sinkhole in Leyte 

 

Meanwhile, another sinkhole was discovered in Barangay Sta. Cruz Butason in Tabango town in Leyte, the News To Go report said.

 

About one hectare of land in the barangay gave in because of the sinkhole, it said, prompting the evacuation of the residents.

 

Authorities have yet to determine the depth of the sinkhole, it added.

 

Sinkholes are likely in areas where the rock underneath is made of limestone, the MGB said, adding that some land in the provinces of Cebu, Bohol and Negros fall under these areas.

 

Sinkholes are formed when the limestone erode because of being soaked in water.

 

"Kung pwede lang tayo mag-X-ray, makita mo polka dots na at namumuo na ang iba't ibang sizes ng butas," said Dr. Leo Jasareno of MGB.

 

Jasareno added that Metro Manila residents are spared from dangers caused by sinkholes because there is no limestone in the area.

 

"Ang karamihan sa ilalim ng lupa ng Metro Manila, puro sediments at lupa lang, pwera na lang sa ilang lugar, gaya sa Guadalupe, na adobe [ang nasa ilalim]," he said. — Rose-An Jessica Dioquino/RSJ, GMA News