Who, what, or where am I? #07

Question

Where was I, May 31, 2010, and what happened here?

Answer 1

You're a sinkhole in Guatemala. You crashed and swallowed some houses. Your sister did the same thing 3 years ago. By the way, geologists prefer to call you a "piping feature"

Well done, how did you know? ;-) - mcl020, Mar 1, 2012

I saw it in National Geographic News. - cheskasullivan, Mar 1, 2012

Ok. Something you probably won't forget soon .... though I am afraid that you don't even get a chance as they predict there will be more and more ... - mcl020, Mar 1, 2012

They should have a geologist check the area and relocate those who are compromised. It's not a safe place to live anymore. - cheskasullivan, Mar 1, 2012

Answer 2

Yezzzz, Cheskasullivan, you are totally right. And unfortunately for Guatemala city some other family members have been active as well over the years ;-( This particular sinkpipe was caused by tropical storm Agatha ... therefore it is also known as the 'Agatha-hole'. It was approximately 60 feet (= 18 metres) wide and 100 feet (= 60 meter) deep.

Here is more information, including a videoclip.

And here is a Discovery News article that Cheskasullivan already referred to, which I think is a bit scary.

What's more scary is, it can happen again. :( - cheskasullivan, Mar 1, 2012

Yezzzz. Way back in 2007 they blamed government for not investing enough in these poor neighbourhoods, but apparently they cannot really be prevented. - mcl020, Mar 1, 2012

Oh you should read the conspiracy theories. Some are just downright crazy. They claim it has something to do with space weapons. lol :p - cheskasullivan, Mar 1, 2012

Yes. And the nearing end of the earth. A nice, entertaining hype for people who do not have to live there themselves ;-( - mcl020, Mar 1, 2012

Answer 3

¿Por qué ellos están perfectamente redondo? Es un poco espantoso.

Answer 4

Inocente Hernandez, a 65-year old grandmother in Guatemala City found another sink hole/pipe under her bed!! Her grandchildren where playing in her bedroom and she was somewhere else in her house, when she heard a very loud noise. She thought it was a gas explosion at one of her neighbours, but neighbours told her the noise had come from her own house. After a long search she found the hole/pipe.

Here you can find a videoclip in which Inocente is talking about her unexpected and very unwelcome visitor.