Two new sinkholes, one of which was described as having caused “half a mountain to collapse”, were discovered in the towns of Alcantara and Badian in southern Cebu last week.
Arturo Palencia, Alcantara Municipal Engineer, said his office received a report that a sinkhole measuring 35 feet deep formed in the slope of a mountain in barangay Cabadiangan last December 30.
“After the (soil caved in due to heavy rains caused by typhoon Seniang), some coconut trees’ leaves were already level with the ground,” Palencia told Cebu Daily News yesterday.
He said the sinkhole caused “almost half of the mountain to collapse.”
Palencia estimated the total land area of the mountain to be 100 to 120 meters long and about 60 meters wide.
The site was immediately cordoned off to keep curious onlookers at bay.
Palencia said the nearest residential area is 300 to 400 meters away from the site.
In barangay Mandoyong, Badian town, a second sinkhole measuring 20 feet wide and 10 feet deep was discovered by residents.
The first sinkhole was discovered in barangay Curvada last November.
Eddie Llamedo, spokesman of the regional Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR 7), urged residents within the 20 to 30 meter radius to evacuate immediately.
In a text message to Cebu Daily News, Llamedo said geologists from the Mines and Geo-sciences Bureau (MGB) will be sent to investigate the areas where new sinkholes have formed next week.
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