MKsport Fuquan, Southwest China's Guizhou Province. Photo: Hongxing News " src="https://www.globaltimes.cn/Portals/0/attachment/2024/2024-12-26/58b4cb2f-f8a8-457e-867c-a9ff2c77c848.jpeg" />

A deep sinkhole appeared in the kitchen of Hu Yuzhen in Xiangping Village, Fuquan, Southwest China's Guizhou Province. Photo: Hongxing News

 

A deep sinkhole appeared in the kitchen of Hu Yuzhen, an elderly woman in Xiangping Village, Fuquan, Southwest China's Guizhou Province, recently. Sinkhole disasters in the village have severely disrupted residents' lives and caused significant property damage. Emergency relocation and post-disaster reconstruction efforts have been launched by local authorities, according to Hongxing News.

Since August 2022, the village has experienced frequent sinkhole disasters, with 32 sinkholes recorded so far, some as deep as three meters. According to geological experts from Guizhou Province, geological experts have attributed the sinkholes to the fragile karst topography in the region. 

This has been exacerbated by prolonged groundwater extraction by nearby coal mines, causing a significant drop in the water table, which destabilized the surface layer and triggered the formation of sinkholes.

The villagers' lives have been significantly disrupted. Local springs have dried up, making traditional rice farming nearly impossible, and many families have experienced severe damage to their farmland and homes.

In May, the Fuquan Natural Resources Bureau designated Xiangping village as a high-risk geological disaster zone, affecting 85 households and causing economic losses estimated at 15 million yuan ($2.05 million). Experts identified both natural and human-induced factors as contributors.

Hu and other affected villagers were temporarily relocated to a previously abandoned school. Evacuation routes and warning signs have been installed in certain areas for safety.

Representatives of the relevant coal mines committed to supporting recovery efforts and considering the engagement of third-party investigators to examine the disaster's causes further. 

To ensure the safety and livelihood of the villagers, the government proposed three resettlement options, including local reconstruction, guaranteed housing, or financial compensation. The construction of new houses is being expedited.

Hongxing News