New sinkhole found in Bohol

CEBU, Philippines- A little over a year since the powerful earthquake that jolted Bohol, a new sinkhole formation was discovered in the province’s capital.

 The newly-found sinkhole was discovered by residents of Barangay San Isidro, Tagbilaran City.

With this, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB)-7 of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 will send a team of geologists this week to conduct an ocular inspection.

Chief geologist Al Emil Berador will lead the investigation in coordination with the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC).

In a statement, MGB-7 regional director Loreto Alburo said the occurrence of sinkholes is actually dramatic as it may appear in the surface or roof of what seems to be intact land but cavities start to scour due to ground vibration, water seeps and passes through fractures or joints of the surface, or even a slight earthquake.

Tagbilaran City CDRRMC Action Officer Gerard Lavadia sent a letter to Alburo dated March 3, 2015.

“We have discovered a newly developed sinkhole in San Isidro, Tagbilaran City which is 15 meters deep and 17 meters wide as per estimate. In this manner, we would like to request for an inspection on the said sinkhole as it endangers the lives of the people in the vicinity,” Lavadia wrote.

Alburo sent a reply the following day informing him of the inspection this week.

While waiting for the inspection team of geologists, Alburo advised the Tagbilaran City government to secure the area by cordoning it to prevent the people from wandering near the area. He also advised the LGU to conduct pre-emptive evacuation of the residents nearby, and continuously monitor the immediate vicinity of the sinkhole for tension cracks that may cause further cave-in and widening of the sinkhole.

Based on the sinkhole and cave distribution map produced by the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA), about 1,182 sinkholes could be found in Bohol.

After the quake, around 198 sinkholes were assessed with 283 cave openings mapped.

In Tagbilaran City, three schools were assessed using a ground penetrating radar (GPR) last November 2014, namely; Dr. Cecilio Putong National High School, Manga National High School, and Mansasa Elementary School.   (FREEMAN)