Sinkhole draws out-of-town residents

CEBU, Philippines - The sinkhole in a farm lot in Barangay Camboang, Dumanjug town drew curiosity from residents of neighboring towns Ronda and Barili after reports about the hole came out in the press last Friday.

Walter Pesalbon, 36, the caretaker of the lot, said residents of the two towns travelled to the farm on motorcycles and buses since Saturday to see the hole.

“Nanguryuso lang kuno sila aron mutan-aw sa lungag nga nagka-anam ug kalalom,” Pesalbon told The FREEMAN in the phone interview.

Movement reportedly continues at the sinkhole,

“Mao ra gyud kuno’y ilang giplitihan ug gi-pagasolinahan sa sakyanan aron mutan-aw lagi diri,” Pesalbon said.

Because of this, policemen and barangay tanods are keeping watch of the farm for security and safety.

As of yesterday, the sinkhole’s crater reportedly widened a few meters more, from 20 meters to 25 meters. It is now at least 15 feet deep.

Pesalbon said another mango tree will most likely sink as land collapses as the hole gets bigger and bigger.

“Gamay na lang ug kuwang maabtan na pud ang manga,” he said.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources and geologists from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau-7 are expected to assess the sinkhole today.

The crater was just about five inches in diameter and less than one meter deep when first discovered. It was suspected that hole, suspected to be part of a cave, was triggered by the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck Cebu and Negros Island last week, as well as the subsequent aftershocks and intense precipitation brought about by an active low-pressure area.

MGB-7 said earlier that the earthquake may have caused ground or tension cracks, factors which may have weakened the cave roof. MGB received the information from the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

It was 5am last Friday when residents heard a loud explosion before Pesalbon saw that the said lot slightly collapsed.

The property is owned by a certain Joy Distelkamps. — (FREEMAN)