Facts About Sinkholes That You Need to Know

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A 48-year-old tourist from India has reportedly fallen into an 8-meter-deep sinkhole in Malaysia. The incident occurred on August 23 when the woman was last seen walking along the pavement of Jalan Masjid India, Kuala Lumpur. A section of the sidewalk suddenly gave way, The Straits Times reported on August 26. 

This incident has brought the existence of sinkholes to the attention of the public, with many concerned people becoming aware of the danger. 

This article will reveal facts about sinkholes, including how the holes were formed, as quoted from various geographical sources. 

Sinkholes form naturally 

A sinkhole is generally a hole that forms when water seeps into the surface rock. According to National Geographic, the overlying rock is often limestone, which can be easily crushed by the movement of water. 

A large amount of water from rainfall usually collects in the cracks of the rocks when limestone is under the ground. As the limestone is dissolved by the movement of the water, these cracks widen until the ground above them collapses. The whole process usually happens without warning in a relatively short time. 

Sinkholes can also form when the roofs of caves collapse, forming a funnel shape with a somewhat wider end open at the surface and a narrower end at the bottom.

Sinkholes can reach 50 meters 

The depth of a sinkhole can vary from one meter to more than 50 meters. According to the USGS, there are a number of very large sinkholes in the United States that have been forming for over a thousand years. 

The largest recent sinkhole in America is reported to be in Alabama in Shelby County, which suddenly collapsed in 1972. The sinkhole is called the "Golly Hole" and is about 325 feet or about 99 meters long. 

Sinkholes can turn into lakes 

There are some instances when water drains through a sinkhole into an underground cave, mud and debris would occupy these caves and form lakes or ponds. The sinkhole lake is often different from natural lakes. 

A sinkhole is different from a pothole 

While it may look the same on the surface, a sinkhole is different from a pothole due to several factors, including the causes. A pothole is caused by the failure of pavement materials such as roads. A sinkhole, on the other hand, is caused by a natural depression in the surface of the ground. 

Sinkholes can occur anywhere 

Sinkholes can occur anywhere, especially in places where water can easily erode the rock below the surface. For example, in landscapes where the bedrock is gypsum, limestone, or salt. These can be anywhere from busy streets to neighborhoods. Sinkholes occur more frequently and more rapidly during heavy rains.

The number of sinkholes cannot be predicted

The number of sinkholes that occur in a year cannot be counted or predicted due to their habit of occurring suddenly. According to the USGS, many sinkholes in the United States go unreported to authorities and news organizations. 

National Geographic | USGS | American Geosciences

Editor's Choice: Sinkhole Appears in South Jakarta's Cilandak Road as Rain Hits

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News