The Guatemala sinkhole 2010 is certainly a natural disaster. Even though the Guatemala sinkhole looks unnatural and unreal, it was caused by natural forces in some way. Somehow, forces helped erode the ground and cause this sudden, gigantic collapse of the ground. Soon, experts will actually be able to go down the hole and figure out exactly how, although theories are already prevalent. Given the theories around the Guatemala sinkhole 2010, however, people will likely ask if anything else is to blame for it.
Two experts have come out and made claims that could complicate the issue. Sam Bonis, a geologist who studied a similar crater in 2007, told Discovery News that the Guatemala sinkhole 2010 was more like a piping feature. Sinkholes form by a chemical dissolution of rocks but, according to Bonis, this incident may have been formed by ground water.
The piping system in the nation may not be too strong, due to various factors. Most notably, volcanic ash from a recent eruption has gotten into the pipes, and could have helped contribute to what happened. This is how the 2007 hole formed, and if it helped cause the 2010 sinkhole, there could be more danger ahead, as ash and dust spread through the country.
In addition, U.S. Geological Survey geologist Dan Doctor shared similar concerns with the website EarthSky. Doctor agrees that the Guatemala sinkhole 2010 was mislabeled, and that the rains from Tropical Storm Agatha might have also played a part.
More ominously, Doctor claimed that Guatemala City should not be vulnerable to this kind of disaster. However, two sinkholes have formed in the same area during the last four years. This could be an additional clue that the human infrastructure, and the piping system, helped to cause this hole.
Bonis alleged that he warned the government in 2007 that this could happen again. Since it did happen again four years later, he now looks like a prophet. The Guatemala sinkhole 2010 did not cause any fatalities, and the one in 2007 only caused three. But, if the infrastructure is unsafe, there are still reasons to fear another incident – and, next time, it may happen in a more populated area.
Of course, all of the speculation is premature, since no one has examined the area in-person yet. Until that happens, no causes can be officially confirmed. Yet it does appear that no matter what is found, the piping and sewage systems in Guatemala have to be examined more closely.
The Guatemala sinkhole 2010 is just one of many things for the government to keep track of, along with the volcanic eruption, and loss of life from Tropical Storm Agatha. But they may need to multi-task, to ensure their list of disasters doesn’t get any bigger.
