SINKHOLES AROUND THE WORLD
They can appear without warning and cause major damage, swallowing people, homes and cars
1. FUKOKA, JAPAN: The bustling Japanese city had an unexpected change to its urban landscape in November last year when a giant hole swallowed huge sections of the street at a busy intersection. Eventually growing to 30 m wide and 15 m deep, the sinkhole – which was blamed on excessive construction in the area – started off as two smaller pits that grew over the course of a few hours to form the giant crater. It was hastily repaired within two days but reports in December claim the repaired ground had once again sunk by 7 cm. Thanks to an eagle-eyed city worker, who noticed the ground slowly cracking before the hole appeared, people were evacuated before anyone was harmed. 2. HALL COUNTY, GEORGIA, US: In January a 25-ton hydro-excavation truck transporting 6 000 litres of water fell into a large sinkhole. The truck was standing in the parking lot of a mechanic’s garage when it collapsed into the 6-m deep hole. Fortunately the driver was unharmed. 3. RIPON, NORTH YORKSHIRE, UK: In November seven houses were evacuated after a 20-m wide, 9-m deep sinkhole appeared overnight – swallowing two back gardens. Luckily no one was hurt. Ripon has suffered several large sinkholes over the past few years, with experts warning that the soft sulphate mineral gypsum under the ground is dissolving and forming a maze of caves.
A few years back YOU reported on a new type of sinkhole that appeared in Siberia, Russia (YOU, 4 September 2014).
Most sinkholes suck in collapsed material but three sinkholes in Siberia seemed to erupt and push underground material up and out.
Scientists are mystified by the phenomenon and speculate that natural underground gas caused pressure to build up in the holes then exploded.