What are the types of sinkholes?

Not all sinkholes are the same, however, even if the overall process — water eroding
bedrock — is the same. There are three types of natural sinkholes.

1. Dissolution sinkholes. These sinkholes are the result of there not being much
groundcover, like vegetation, over the bedrock. Water slips through pre-existing
holes in the bedrock and begins to circulate through the bedrock. A depression in the
ground can form, and if the bedrock layers beneath are sturdy enough or there’s
enough debris blocking the flow of water, the sinkhole may stop deepening. This
could result in the formation of a pond-like areas and even wetlands.

2. Cover-subsidence sinkholes. These sinkholes start with something permeable

covering the sinkhole while also containing a good deal of sand. This sediment begins
to spill — or spall as the proper nomenclature refers to it — into those empty
caverns among the bedrock. Over time, a depression in the surface may occur. This
sediment can block the caverns and prevent the flow of water. These sorts of
sinkholes are never very large, according to the Southwest Florida Water
Management District, since the sediment prevents the water from further eroding
the surrounding bedrock.

3. Cover-collapse sinkholes. Perhaps the most well-known of sinkholes, cover-

collapse sinkholes are also the most dramatic. The surface area above the bedrock in
this instance is mostly clay, spalls into the cavities. But since the clay is sturdy, arches
form as its slowly spalls. This arch continues to support the surface ground until it
becomes so thin that it collapses into the cavern below, swallowing up everything
above it.

There is one final type of sinkhole, and that’s man-made sinkholes. These sinkholes
are the result of a variety of practices, from drilling to mining to changes in water
diversion systems to broken pipes.

Here's the list of 5 places in the Philippines

with known sinkholes
1. Sinkhole in Bantayan Island and Badian, Cebu

A new sinkhole in Sta. Fe town in Bantayan island was found in July last year that
forced families in sitio Dapdap, Barangay Langub to relocate. Initially, the hole is two
to three feet wide but grew wider according to residents. The sinkhole was about 40
feet wide and 4 feet deep.

2.Sinkhole in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental

Six people have reportedly fallen into a 12 feet deep sinkhole that suddenly
appeared in the middle of a basketball court in Purok Jalandoni, Barangay Oringao in
Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental in July lasy year. MGB said the hole may have
been created by water flowing underground. Theu considered this as a geological
hazard.

3. Baguio City sinkholes

Sinkholes are quite common in Baguio City, which also has at least seven known
faults and numerous areas vulnerable to landslides. Landslides could be triggered by
an earthquake or continuous rainfall, which can also cause sinkholes to wreak havoc.
Because Baguio has one of the 10 highest daily rainfall records in the world and is
visited by an average of five cyclones in a three-year period, landslides and sinkhole-
related mishaps are expectedThis and the presence of the faults—cracks or gaps in
geological plates, the sudden movement of which causes earthquakes—are most
probably why the World Bank lists Baguio as among the top seven risk-prone cities in
Asia. But while Baguio officials are well aware of the delicate nature of their city,
little has been done to discourage people from constructing homes and even
buildings in areas where the ground is unstable

4. Sinkhole in Bohol

The deep hole found in Barangay Cambilan, Catigbian, Bohol according to Harlans
Multimedia Production who has posted the video in Youtube said it was due to the
7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck the province in October 2013.

5. Mysterious Underwater sinkhole of Dadiangas, GenSan

Disaster officials are still puzzled on a deep hole suspected sinkhole at Purok Tinago,
a community of informal settlers in Barangay South Dadiangas, General Santos City.
Local TV stations have reported that it suddenly appeared in February this year.Local
reports said the underwater hole continues to eat into the shores and gobble their
homes. When they tried to measure the depth of the hole using a pumpboat anchor,
only 20 dipa (fathoms) were left of the 350 fathoms of rope.

8 Actions To Take if You Believe You Have a

Sinkhole

Step #1: Keep Away

The first step you should always take if you believe a sinkhole exists on your property
is to keep away from it. In particular, make sure you keep children away from the
possible sinkhole area. Then, locate any animals you may have and keep them away
as well.

Step #2: Leave Your Impacted House Immediately

Determine if the hole is impacting your house in any way. If it is, then leave the
home and stay out of it. The most obvious signs that the hole is impacting your
house include the following:

Sinking, sagging, or cracking walls

Difficulty closing doors and/or windows
Cracks in floors, pavement, patios, and/or ground surface in or around the house
Step #3: Fence or Rope Off the Area

Making sure to use materials that are visible in both the daytime and nighttime,
block the area of the sinkhole with fencing or rope. The critical point here is to make
it clear to anyone that the area is definitely off limits and to block it off as best you
can.

Step #4: Contact Your Insurance Company

Contact your insurance company to make them aware of the situation as soon as
possible. You may find that your insurance policy covers both assessment of the
situation as well as repair. At the same time, you may find out that your insurance
covers neither. It’s important to understand what your insurance covers and does
not cover so that you can budget for the right course of action. You will want your
insurance adjuster to be on top of the situation as soon as possible (after securing
and marking off the area). In conjunction with contacting your insurance company,
check with your local government office to find out if an agency exists that can assist
you in evacuating your home, assessing damage, and reporting the sinkhole. In some
Florida communities, the local Emergency Management Office can provide
assistance in circumstances in which the home is endangered.

Step #5: Consult with a Soil Testing Firm or Engineering Company

To know for sure if you have a sinkhole, you will need to obtain the results of a test
by a licensed engineer with a professional geologist on staff or by a geological testing
firm, either of whom can perform an evaluation of your property. Pricing can vary
widely from such firms. As such, it is important for you to understand from your
insurance company whether or not the geological assessment is covered by your
insurance policy. If not, you will want to obtain price quotes from at least two
separate engineering/geological testing firms. You may also find that your local
Water Management District performs sinkhole assessments, and these may be less
expensive than those performed by private companies.
Step #6: Monitor the Sinkhole for Signs of Growth

Sinkholes can change in size rapidly. Continuously monitor the size of your sinkhole,
making sure to remain at a safe distance from the sinkhole at all times.

Step #7: Watch for Further Structural Damage

If you originally decided to stay in your home because you saw no signs of damage
impact from the sinkhole, continue checking for signs of damage impact. Sinkhole
dangers can evolve quickly, and you need to remain vigilant and be ready to
evacuate your home at the first sign of damage.

Step #8: Avoid Dumping Anything into the Sinkhole

Dumping materials into sinkholes could possibly contaminate groundwater. Before

putting anything into a sinkhole, await specific instructions from your local
government agency and insurance company. You do not want to be liable for any
damage.