KHON KAEN, Thailand – Seven sinkholes have ripped open on a farm in Ban Wang Charoen. Authorities are preparing to declare the village a disaster zone as geologists blame natural collapses in underground limestone cavities.
Geologists from Regional Office 2 of the Department of Mineral Resources and local officials inspected the damage in Huai Muang subdistrict, Phu Pha Man district. The circular holes average four to five metres deep.
Earth gave way into ancient caves
Experts say the surface soil collapsed into cavities that formed beneath old limestone layers. The sinkholes appeared on farmland in Ban Wang Charoen.
Tectonic movements cracked the limestone over millions of years. The Department of Mineral Resources says those cracks, combined with local geological conditions, caused the ground to cave in.
No further expansion expected
Oruma Summat, director of the regional office, does not expect the underground cavities to expand further. Officials may temporarily fill the holes with soil.
Geologists warn residents to watch for air or water bubbles rising from the ground. Those signs could mean more hollow spaces below and another possible sinkhole.
Farmer spotted bubbles on her rice paddy
Ranong Khaophuang noticed bubbles while transplanting rice seedlings on her four-rai field. She fled the area in fear of a collapse.
The farmer asked whether nearby limestone quarries might have caused the sinkholes. Authorities have found no link so far.
Village set for disaster zone status
Governor Khajornkiat Rakpanichmanee said Ban Wang Charoen will be declared a disaster zone. Officials first identified other high-risk spots.
The status will allow authorities to consider aid for affected residents. Officials say the decision follows the law.
Danger zones to be cordoned off
Officials will fence off dangerous areas to control access to the sinkholes. Oruma Summat says the holes can be temporarily filled with soil.
Residents must still heed the geologists’ warning: rising air or water bubbles may signal more underground cavities below.