THE Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) in Central Visayas region has recommended the evacuation of 16 households living near a sinkhole in Lapu-Lapu City, which appeared after last Tuesday's earthquake.
Eddie Llamedo, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) regional spokesperson, said MGB also urged the Lapu-Lapu City Government to install fences around the sinkhole and monitor the area.
The sinkhole in Sitio Kapayas, Barangay Canjulao is reportedly getting bigger and deeper.
It had a diameter of 20 by 15 meters and was 1.8 meters deep. Yesterday, it grew wider to 40 by 60 meters and had a depth of two meters.
Abraham Lucero Jr., MGB regional senior science research specialist, was sent to check the sinkhole's condition on Thursday.
Llamedo said that based on Lucero's findings, the sinkhole appeared when the soil in the area collapsed.
Mactan, where Lapu-Lapu City is located, is an island made up of porous coralline limestone, which is characterized by sinkholes and caverns.
Llamedo said residents of an apartment situated near the sinkhole are advised to evacuate as their homes might fall into the sinkhole.
Eight families lost their homes when the sinkhole appeared.
DENR Regional Executive Director Isabelo Montejo advised residents to immediately report to their barangay officials if the find more sinkholes.
In 2009, a rapid geohazard assessment conducted by the MGB revealed that 14 barangays in the towns of Tuburan, Argao, Dumanjug and Ronda, Cebu have sinkholes.
The barangays are: Bulwang, Lusong, Montealegre, Santo Niño Siotes, Kabkaban, Libo, Taminjiao, Kalangahan, Bagasawe and Sandayong, in Tuburan; Linut-od in Argao; Kang-actol in Dumanjug; and Vive in Ronda.