Sinkhole in Bogo widens further, controlled zone advised

Local

THE newly discovered sinkhole in Bogo City, northern Cebu continues to expand, prompting authorities to recommend a wider off-limits area around the site as safety precautions.

Scientists from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau- Central Visayas (MGB-7) recently conducted an inspection of the sinkhole located in Sitio Indilicio, Purok Libog 1, Barangay Guadalupe, and immediately classified it as a “high-risk ground collapse area.”

The geological formation could result in ground collapse that could be perilous for those living and staying nearby.

The bureau recommended that Bogo City establish and strictly enforce a no-entry buffer zone of at least 20 meters from the sinkhole’s rim. The distance could also be expanded as needed based on continued monitoring, MGB-7 added.

The agency also proposed a controlled-access zone extending at least 50 meters from the sinkhole to keep away onlookers and non-residents.

People gathering near the site could add surface load and vibration to already unstable ground, potentially increasing the danger, they warned.

The sinkhole was first observed as a ground depression on Aug. 20, following photos and videos from residents that went viral on social media.

During the assessment, MGB-7 identified the feature as a cover collapse sinkhole measuring roughly 15 meters by 25 meters, and had grown by about two meters between Aug. 22 and 23 alone.

The sinkhole remains active, with portions of its rim occasionally giving way and collapsing into the cavity below.

Geologists also heard rumbling sounds during their assessment, which they said indicated subsurface collapse and could lead to further enlargement, they explained.

The hazard is particularly concerning because the nearest house is only about 18 meters from the expanding rim.

But the new sinkhole is also not the only ground-collapse feature in the area.

MGB-7 also identified two older cover collapse sinkholes about 100 meters southwest and 65 meters northeast of the new one. Both reportedly formed after the 2025 Bogo Bay Fault earthquake.

Their locations on opposite sides of the newly formed sinkhole suggest that the area could be sitting above an interconnected or laterally extensive underground cavity or conduit system, rather than an isolated collapse, they explained.

In the meantime, MGB-7 said affected residents have already been briefed about the danger and advised to evacuate pre-emptively whenever heavy rains occur.

Likewise, they recommended continuous monitoring and immediate reporting of new ground cracks or unusual sounds to the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

MGB-7 also urged the public to remain alert, particularly during and after heavy rainfall or earthquake-related ground shaking, and said pre-emptive evacuation or relocation should be considered if the sinkhole continues to move toward homes.(RBE)