While plowing in the Na Cay field, Mr. Hai - a resident of Khi hamlet, Nhan Nghia commune, Lac Son district, Hoa Binh - suddenly had an accident when the tractor-trailer plunged into the field and got stuck. When checking the scene, Mr. Hai discovered a large sinkhole deep into the ground.
According to Mr. Hai, the sinkhole is about 1m in diameter and the depth has not been determined. Currently, the water in the pit is blue and has wavy phenomena, many people suspect that there is an underground flow under the pit, even fish living there.
To ensure safety, local people have used bamboo stakes and warning ropes to surround this area and placed warning signs of danger to avoid the risk of children or passersby falling.
The phenomenon of sinkholes is not the first time it has occurred in Nhan Nghia commune. People said that about 10 years ago, in Vo Giua hamlet (near the Oanh Ba gas station), a similar sinkhole appeared and has been handled. Most recently, in 2022, a sinkhole also appeared right in front of a household and was filled with soil.
According to the Muong people, the sinkhole is also known as "Vu Rang" or "Rang Ho", a natural phenomenon commonly found in limestone mountains, where geology is weak, prone to erosion or underground cavities. However, due to the lack of in-depth research, it is almost impossible to predict subsidence points in advance.
Mr. Bui Van Quyn - Vice Chairman of Nhan Nghia Commune People's Committee, said that the authorities had sent officers to the scene to check and instruct people not to approach the sinkhole area to avoid accidents. The commune is also coordinating to report to superiors, requesting specialized agencies to promptly participate in surveys and assessments of the geology of the area, thereby finding fundamental, long-term solutions.
"We hope that the relevant agencies will soon research and make specific assessments to have solutions to overcome the situation and ensure the safety of the people" - Mr. Quyn said.
The incident is a warning bell about the risk of subsidence in mountainous areas with weak geology such as Lac Son. In the context of climate change and the increasingly large impact of humans, the government and people need to raise vigilance and coordinate closely to prevent risks that can occur at any time.
