• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The ground cracks in Sitio Bairan, Barangay General Luna in Toboso, Negros Occidental, is now 11 feet (3.3 meters) deep, with the diameter increasing to 60 meters, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Hospicio Carbajosa Jr. disclosed on Thursday.
A team from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) inspected on Wednesday the ground cracks and conducted drone and topographic surveys, mapping and terrain checks, for software analysis.
Carbajosa said the site is known to be limestone-based.
He added that the MGB team did not find any exposed bedrock during the site inspection.
The MGB team is scheduled for another study of the affected site during the second week of March, bringing more equipment to examine underground conditions, determine the extent of the cracks, and identify the underlying causes of the ground movement.
The affected area has already been cordoned off by the local authorities.
While some residents and students traditionally pass through the area, safety reminders have been distributed, and alternative routes to the National Highway are available through Sitios Kabibang and Burgos, Carbajosa said.
Carbajosa called for vigilance, as he noted the continuing deceleration in ground movement, following overnight rain on Wednesday, which can exacerbate ground instability.
Mayor Richard Jaojoco said the presence of the cracks have disrupted the daily lives of residents, especially students who have to go through a longer route to reach school.
Several years ago, several large ground cracks were also discovered in Brgy. Quintin Remo, Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental.*
