2010 Sinkhole in Quatemala
May 30, 2010
General Information on Sinkholes
A sinkhole is a hole or depression in the ground. Sinkholes are caused by some form of collapse of the Earth's surface. Sinkholes also occur when water washes away soft rocks like limestone, carbonate rock, and salt beds. Sinkholes tend to occur in Florida, Texas, Alabama, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania. The good thing is, NASA can predict when a sinkhole might occur. Using a NASA plane with unique radar technology that transmits electronic pulses, scientists can map out how the Earth's crust is shifting. Lots of people die from sinkholes but there is not much you can do to prevent sinkholes from happening. Multiple States have received $1.1 millions federal grant to study which areas are more likely to sinkholes happening. You can't really prepare your home for sinkholes. The best thing is not to live where sinkholes occur.
Sinkhole in Guatemala
The sinkhole is Guatemala happened on May 30, 2010. The sinkhole occur in the dead center of the Guatemala city. The sinkhole swallowed a 3 story factory. Unfortunately, the sinkhole took 15 lives that day. The sinkhole was caused by a burst sewer pipe and storm drain under the city. The rock under the factory was very unconsolidated and loose which made it very easy for the ground to sink.
Damages
The Guatemala sinkhole almost destroyed an entire intersection. The sinkhole also destroyed a small neighborhood as well. The sinkhole also pulled down power lines so people living in that area were without power for a while. That was the only big damage that occurred during this disaster.
Facts
- The 2010 sinkhole caused a massive landslide that killed 179 people.
- The hole was 60 feet wide and 30 stories deep.
- The sinkhole was caused by Tropical Storm Agatha.
- Immediately after the sinkhole happened, the city filled the hole withlodocreto.
Citations
- Than, Ker. 'Sinkhole In Guatemala: Giant Could Get Even Bigger'. News.nationalgeographic.com. N.p., 2010. Web. 13 Oct. 2015.
- Forum.davidicke.com,. '"Sink Hole Events" - David Icke's Official Forums'. N.p., 2015. Web. 13 Oct. 2015.
- Monitor, The. 'Guatemala City Sinkhole So Big, So Round It 'Doesn't Seem Real''. The Christian Science Monitor. N.p., 2010. Web. 14 Oct. 2015.
- Google Earth Blog,. 'Guatemala City Sinkhole Location Found In Google Earth - Google Earth Blog'. N.p., 2007. Web. 15 Oct. 2015.
- Giant Could Get Even Bigger'. News.nationalgeographic.com. N.p., 2010. Web. 15 Oct. 2015.
- Robertkaplinsky.com,. 'How Big Is The 2010 Guatemalan Sinkhole? | Robert Kaplinsky - Glenrock Consulting, LLC'. N.p., 2013. Web. 16 Oct. 2015.
- Wikipedia,. '2010 Guatemala City Sinkhole'. N.p., 2015. Web. 16 Oct. 2015.