Massive Sinkhole in Mexico: Experts May Have Solved the Mystery

A study by experts said the huge sinkhole that mysteriously appeared on a farm in central Mexico was caused by erosion of limestone bedrock, disputing the excessive water pumping claims.

Several of the residents in the Puebla state earlier said that the sinkhole was a result of excessive water pumping by factories or water bottling plants in the area.

Due to the water pumping claims, a water bottling plant in the area was closed earlier as they thought it was the cause of the sinkhole, Associated Press News reported.

However, Mexico's National Water Commission confirmed that the cause of the crater was a natural process of limestone being dissolved that could cause the soil on top to collapse. It added that there is no evidence that the cause of the huge sinkhole was water extraction.

Puebla Gov. Miguel Barbosa earlier said if water extraction proved to be the reason behind the sinkhole, he would cancel any pumping permits, The Seattle Times reported.

Massive Sinkhole in Mexico

The massive sinkhole in Mexico that appeared in late May at a farm has grown larger than a football field. It has already swallowed a house and trapped two dogs that were eventually rescued, ABC News reported.

The Puebla government earlier said that the dogs had been trapped for about four days on a ledge of the hole dropping 50 feet to water.

The two dogs named Spay and Spike were playing in the farm field around the sinkhole when they fell in. The sinkhole was over 400 feet across in some places and 150 feet deep.

The Mexican government had sent in soldiers to keep people 2,000 feet away from the edge of the sinkhole, which is 50 feet deep.

A resident of the swallowed home, Magdalena Xalamigua Xopillacle, said it's a tough time for them since that was all they have.

Beatriz Manrique, the environmental secretary for the region, earlier said that the softening of the field and the extraction of groundwater that softens the subsoil might be a contributing factor, KSAT News reported.

On the other hand, Mexico's civil defense office said the sinkhole might have occurred due to an uncovered river. Officials had warned people to stay away from the site due to the risk of further ground fractures.

Authorities have put up metal barriers and police tape to keep onlookers out. They also restricted flying drones over it.

What is a Sinkhole?

According to National Geographic, a sinkhole is a hole in the ground that appears when water dissolves surface rock.

Two types of sinkholes exist, one when the roof of a cave collapses and exposes the underground tavern, the other is when water dissolves the rock underneath the soil and creates an underground chasm.

Sinkholes have both natural and human causes. Manmade sinkholes occur when city development compromises the structural integrity of underlying rock. Types of construction may wash away the supporting rock layer as the water gets collected in certain areas.

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