Huge cracks in the ground found in Batangas town

LEMERY, Batangas — Shockingly huge cracks in the ground have appeared in a remote farming village here after the onslaught of typhoon Rolly, alarming residents, but, conversely, piquing the curiosity of people from neighboring towns.

The deep fissures were found right smack in the middle of a plantation field. The biggest measures about 12 meters long, 6 meters deep and 3 meters wide, as per the estimation of the Municipal Engineering Office of Lemery.

“Ang lalim; delikado ito,” said municipal engineer Ernesto Hernandez.

Barangay officials and residents have expressed concern about the cavities.  “Aba’y nangangamba siempre, takot kami,” said village chief Reynaldo Obrador.

Among the first ones to discover the strange cracks early Monday morning, after Rolly made its presence felt the night before,  was Ronnie Magsino, who was astounded by the gaping holes in the open field.

“Nagulat nga ako sa sobrang laki,” he said.

However, on a lighter note, the fissures have attracted visitors far and wide, making the village an instant tourist destination of sorts. People from other towns in Batangas have been making short trips to this far-flung place to get a glimpse of the unusual sight, and of course take selfies and snapshots.

“Biglang may mga bumibisita dito sa amin mula sa ibang bayan,” said Magsino.

But the massive fissures didn’t happen in an instant. They were mere small cracks in the ground in Barangay Mataas na Bayan that had been left by the eruption of Taal Volcano in January 2020 until heavy rains came days ago, which hugely widened and deepened the tiny gaps.

“Mga iniwan 'yan ng paglindol noong pumutok ang Taal Volcano,” said Obrador.

Contacted by GMA News, PHIVOLCS chief Renato Solidum was quick to allay residents' fears, saying the fissures transforming into mammoth cracks were just a mere consequence of the downpour.

“Kapag bumubuhos ang malakas na ulan o umuulan, nauuka ang mga deposito o mga buhangin, abo sa ibabaw kaya nagkaroon ng paminsan na mga butas along the fissure,” Solidum explained.

To avert any untoward incident, the Municipal Engineering Office plans to close up the holes by dumping truckloads of soil into them. “Para po hindi maging delikado dito,” said Hernandez.

Solidum saw no problem with the idea, but warned against putting up structures within the vicinity of the fissures. — BM, GMA News