25 Meters Wide, 200 Meters Deep: An Ultra-Large Sinkhole
Court Orders Mining Company to Restore Damages
About three years ago, a massive sinkhole appeared in Chile, and the mining company responsible for causing it has now been ordered to fill it in. Canadian mining company Lundin Mining announced on September 7 that, following the outcome of a civil lawsuit, it would be carrying out restoration activities related to the sinkhole that occurred at the Alcaparrosa mine in Chile. On October 1, Yonhap News, citing foreign media including the Associated Press, reported that the Chilean Environmental Court has ordered Lundin to fill in the sinkhole, promote groundwater recharge, and work on water infrastructure projects.
This sinkhole is an ultra-large size, measuring 25 meters wide and 200 meters deep, large enough to completely submerge the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France. Reuters Yonhap News
This sinkhole formed in July 2022 in a desert village about 665 kilometers north of Santiago, the capital of Chile. The sinkhole is of an ultra-large size, measuring 25 meters wide and 200 meters deep-large enough to completely submerge the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France. The sinkhole is located near the Alcaparrosa copper mine operated by Canadian mining company Lundin. At the time the sinkhole appeared, Lundin issued a statement saying, "There were no casualties due to the ground subsidence," and "the nearest residence is 600 meters away." However, for several years, this sinkhole has been a source of fear for residents of the nearby village of Tierra Amarilla.
Local resident Rudy Alfaro said, "Since the sinkhole appeared, we have continued to live in fear," adding, "We were afraid that the sinkhole would keep growing and move closer to our homes." Recently, an earthquake in the area caused a cloud of dust to rise from the sinkhole, further heightening residents' anxiety. Lundin has stated that it will cooperate with authorities to implement restoration measures.
Meanwhile, sinkholes-deep holes formed by ground subsidence-occur in various places around the world, sometimes becoming tourist attractions. However, large-scale sinkholes that appear in the middle of cities can lead to devastating casualties. Recently, a massive sinkhole with a diameter of 50 meters appeared in Bangkok, Thailand, causing significant damage. In South Korea as well, sinkholes have been occurring more frequently, prompting growing calls for more concrete countermeasures regarding sinkhole risks.
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