A huge hole in the ground is getting bigger every day in a village in Indonesia and has already eaten up roads, farms and crops, leaving local people worried about their homes and jobs.
The sinkhole in Pondok Balik village, Central Aceh, is now more than 30,000 square metres wide, equal to around four football fields, and very deep.
WHAT IS A SINKHOLE?
For simple understanding, a sinkhole is like the ground suddenly opening up and falling in.
It happens when the soil or rock underneath gets weak and cannot hold the top layer any more. Water flowing underground washes away the soft parts, creating empty spaces.
Then the surface cracks and collapses, forming a big hole or crater. In this case, it is not a sudden round hole like in some stories. It is a slow-moving landslide in loose volcanic soil, getting worse with rain and small earthquakes.
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN ACEH?
The land in the region is made of soft volcanic rock and sand from an old volcano. Heavy rain seeps in, and water under the ground slowly erodes it. Earthquakes near the big Sumatran fault line have also shaken the area many times.
The hole that has appeared in Aceh this time, according to officials, has been expanding southeast, cutting through farms and roads.
The sinkhole has already destroyed coffee, chilli and sugarcane plantations that many families depend on.
Furthermore, high-voltage electricity towers had to be moved 150 metres away to stop power cuts.
The hole is now just 300 to 600 metres from houses and more farmland, prompting local authorities to put up signs and close the area to stop anyone from going near and declaring it a danger zone.
So far no one has been hurt, but the ground is still moving.
The nearest village has about 800 people. Officials have noted that they will move farms or houses only if the hole comes closer.
The Minister of Public Works, Dody Hanggodo, visited the spot earlier this month. His team is studying how to fix it by filling underground gaps with special material, changing water flow and strengthening the slopes with plants.
Experts expect the movement of the sinkhole to continue for some time, meaning people must stay vigilant and maintain a safe distance.
The strange event has highlighted how nature can change fast in hilly volcanic areas, even to a point where a giant hole could arrive at people’s doorsteps without warning.
