Sinkhole sucks river in Barili; cordoned off

Anew sinkhole found in Barili town in southwest Cebu has been cordoned to prevent curious onlookers from accidentally falling in.

Ariel Pucayan, a resident of barangay Nasipit, told Cebu Daily News the sinkhole “swallowed” all the water in a nearby river where residents would bathe and do their laundry.

“Usa ka dumptruck ang iyang gidak-on. Nahurot gud ang tubig, “ said the habal-habal driver who saw the hole past 2 p.m. on Tuesday.

(It was as big as a dump truck. All the water in the river drained in the hole.)

When CDN yesterday visited the area, 61 kilometers south of Cebu CIty,  the hole was no longer visible.

Barili Vice Mayor Marlon Garcia said he had dump trucks with filling materials cover the hole.

Water has flowed back in the river but a small whirlpool was seen in the spot where the sinkhole was discovered.

The sinkhole, located in the boundary of barangays Nasipit and Mantayupan was reported on Tuesday by the barangay captain of Mantayupan.

Authorities ordered the area cordoned from the public to prevent any accident in case the collapsed portion of the surface grows bigger.

Geologists Jun Lucero of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) advised residents not to go within 30 meters from the sinkhole.

Earlier this year, sinkholes were also discovered in southern towns of Dalaguete and Dumanjug.

The depth of the sinkhold

Tony Paglinawan, a barangay tanod of Nasipit tried to measure the depth of the hole with a 14-foot bamboo stick.

Beyond 4 feet, he could not feel the riverbed.

Police Chief Inspector Marlon Gumabao stationed two policemen to secure the area in coordination with barangay tanods.

Mayor Garcia said they are requesting geologists from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) in Region 7 to investigate the sinkhole.

Eddie Llamedo, spokesman of the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources – 7, said the MGB team will inspect the area on Friday.

Sinkholes are topographic depressions formed as underlying limestone bedrock is dissolved by groundwater./with a report from Jessia J. Agua