Did a blue hole really show up after a flood in Misamis Occidental?

Residents of Barangay Dolipos Bajo in Oroquieta City, Misamis Occidental claimed that a blue hole suddenly appeared in their area after a flood.

As seen on Kuya Kim's "24 Oras" report, Thursday, the water is bright blue and was instantly used by the residents as a swimming pool. It was dubbed as the "Blue Hole ng Oroquieta."

However, officials said more investigation and research are still needed to prove the claim.

"Maaaring na-expose 'yung bitak sa ilalim ng lupa na siyang naging daan ng ground water paakyat," said geologist Christian Cruz.

"Kailangan pa ng mas masusing pag-aaral ng Mines and Geosciences Bureau para mas mabigyan ng impormasyon ang local communities sa geohazards na associated sa geological phenomenon na 'to."

("It's possible that the crack beneath the ground got exposed and became the path for the ground water moving upwards. We need further study from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau to give more information to the local communities on the geohazards associated with this geological phenomenon.")

According to Kuya Kim, most blue holes are formed from sinkholes or caves that slowly develop because because of the decaying or crumbling of rocks.

Meanwhile, blue holes have such color because of either two things: the high transparency of water or because of the carbonate sand's bright hue.

"Maaari silang mag-reflect ng sunlight. 'Pag may layer ka ng tubig, nag-aabsorb 'yan ng longer wavelengths of light kaya ang malalaking bodies of water, kulay blue," said environmental chemistry professor Laurenzo Alba.

("They can reflect sunlight. If you have a layer of water, that absorbs longer wavelengths of light so huge bodies of water are blue.")

The only verified blue hole in the Philippines can be found in Romblon while the biggest one in the world is in the South China Sea. It has a depth of 987 feet.

—Franchesca Viernes/MGP, GMA Integrated News