TEMPO.CO, Kediri - At least 58 water wells in the district of Kediri mysteriously during the past week, transforming the wells into a huge hole on the ground. The Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Center (PVMBG) suspected that the natural occurrence was caused by a crack that developed in the slope of mount Kelud.
“The base of the well elevated before it finally collapsed,” Manggis village chief Sunardi said on Friday, April 28, 2017
People were concerned since the incidents happened simultaneously. Local villagers were afraid that their houses would also turn into a sinkhole just as their water wells. They are now facing the fact they have lost their sources clean water.
According to PVMBG, the incident was prompted by rainfalls that were continuously pouring over the last two weeks. Rumbling sounds were heard coming from the ground before the water wells turned into a sinkhole.
The sinkhole phenomena happened in two neighboring villages from the peak of mount Kelud down to the slope. The sand deposit from past eruptions was suspected to be the main cause of the sinkhole.
According to an official, the sand sedimentation has not matured yet causing high densities of water to leak into the sedimentation.
HARI TRI WASONO
