An alleged “sinkhole” was discovered in Toboso, Negros Occidental, about 500 meters from the East Negros Fault System (ENFS) on Thursday morning, Feb. 12, Mayor Richard Jaojoco said.
The crack in the ground, situated on a mountainside in Sitio Bairan, Brgy. Gen. Luna, has a radius of 30 meters and a depth of approximately 1.5 meters, Hospicio Carbajosa Jr., Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer of Toboso, said.
The Calatrava-Toboso earthquake fault line is part of the ENFS, a series of active faults in Negros Occidental that also include the Pinocawan River, and San Carlos segments.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said these faults pose significant earthquake risks to the region due to their proximity to the Negros Trench.
Residents noticed the phenomenon around 7 a.m. after reportedly feeling the earth shake.
Carbajosa noted that the alleged “sinkhole” is not currently a cause for alarm as it is located away from residential houses and is about 500 meters from the national highway.
Toboso officials have been informed by the Office of Civil Defense Negros Island Region that a Mines and Geosciences Bureau team will visit the site to conduct an assessment.
The Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office also said the Provincial Environment Management Office will also visit the area.*
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