MGB to probe “sinkhole” in Ronda

CEBU, Philippines - The Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of  Environment and Natural Resources-7 is set to investigate within the week the reported “sinkhole” in Barangay Palanas, Ronda, Cebu.

In the meantime the geologist still has to conduct investigation, DENR-7 through its information officer Eddie Llamedo, urged the local government of Ronda to monitor the sinkhole as it develops.

Llamedo said that an advisory or sign-age should be placed on the hazards present and cordoned off the area so that people will be warned accordingly.

“The cave roof  may have collapsed after a strong typhoon Yolanda that brought more rains, saturating the soil,” Llamedo told The Freeman.

He said that the appearance of a sinkhole could have aggravated after the October 15 earthquake where there are tension cracks.

He added that it is important that residents should heed the advice of the LGU of not going into very close to the affected area while the incident is yet to be investigated.

MGB-7 Regional Director Loreto B. Alburo said that sinkholes are natural depressions formed as a result of the collapse of the cavern roof.

Llamedo added that  sinkholes are common where the rock below the land surface is limestone, carbonate rock, salt beds, or rocks that can naturally be dissolved by circulating ground water.

As the rock dissolves, he said, spaces and caverns develop underground.

Llamedo added that the formation of sinkholes can be dramatic because the surface land usually stays intact until there is no longer enough support.  Then, the surface area can suddenly collapse.— GMR (FREEMAN)