The Guatemala Sinkhole in 2010 opened up because of Tropical Storm Agatha. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

In downtown Guatemala City, a sinkhole in Guatemala 2010 has opened up. It’s 30 meters across, and the sinkhole in Guatemala 2010 swallowed a three-story building. This sinkhole was partially caused by Tropical Storm Agatha, which killed at least 115 people.

Sinkhole in Guatemala 2010

The sinkhole in Guatemala 2010 opened up on Monday evening. The sinkhole is 30 meters in diameter, 60 meters deep and is in downtown Guatemala City. A three-story building disappeared into the sinkhole. One person was killed when the Guatemala sinkhole opened up. This is the second major Guatemala sinkhole to open up in the last three years. In 2007, a similar sinkhole killed three people.

Guatemala sinkhole follows volcano eruption

The Guatemala sinkhole disaster follows a long string of disasters near Guatemala city. Four days previous, the volcano Pacaya erupted, prompting the original declaration of a “state of calamity.” Between Tropical Storm Agatha, the eruption of Pacaya and earthquakes, Guatemala City has been experiencing more than its fair share of disasters. The small nation has been encountering debt management issues, and these disasters are sure to add to the problem.

Official photos of the Guatemala Sinkhole 2010

Before the Guatemala Sinkhole 2010 news hit most international news services, photos were available. The official Guatemala government Flickr account included photos of the endless-seeming sinkhole. Many parts of Guatemala have been evacuated because of Pacaya and fallout from the tropical storm. The state of calamity that was declared last weekend will continue to extend emergency powers to the Guatemalan government for the next month.

Cause of Guatemala Sinkhole 2010

The Guatemala Sinkhole 2010 had at least two causes — Tropical Storm Agatha and bad drainage. A sinkhole is usually created when water runs through rock or support structures. The water slowly dissolves the rock, and eventually the weight above the area causes the area to drop out. In Guatemala City, the sinkhole was partially caused by bad drainage; the heavy water overwhelmed the underground support of the building.

Sinkholes can be common occurrences in wetland states. Image from Flickr.

If your evening commute includes I-24 in Tennessee, the I-24 sinkhole is sure to throw a wrench into your plans. A deep sinkhole opened up on I-24 between Chattanooga and Nashville, and shut down a 13-mile stretch of the heavily traveled road. In Canada, a wide sinkhole that opened last week killed a family who was in their basement. So what is the deal with all of these sinkholes?

I-24 Sinkhole snarls Tennessee traffic

The Tennessee Department of Transportation reported today that the I-24 sinkhole opened up Tuesday morning. A tractor-trailer barely missed the sinkhole after it opened up, and nobody was injured or had to take out new car loans as a result of the sinkhole. At 40 feet long and 25 feet deep, the sinkhole will take $266,960 to fix, and authority hopes repairs will be completed by May 22. A private contractor has been given the contract. The I-24 sinkhole is between mile marker 127 and exit 127. Traffic has been detoured around the sinkhole on Eastbound lanes, though Westbound lanes have not been closed.

Canadian sinkhole kills family of four

On the northern side of the continent, a sinkhole that recently opened up in Canada killed a family of four. Just outside Montreal, a sinkhole appeared under several homes, and one family who was in their basement at the time was encased in the sloshing mud. Neighboring houses were evacuated, and the area is being treated as a disaster rehabilitation area by the Canadian government.

What is a sinkhole, anyway?

Sudden sinkholes such as the ones in Tennessee and Canada have several causes. Usually, water either running below bedrock or seeping in from above works away at the underlying support of an area. The water slowly dissolves the rock, and eventually the weight above the area simply becomes too much. At this point, a sudden sinkhole appears. Sub-surface waterways, sewer piping and abandoned mines are some of the most common causes of sinkholes. Sinkholes can be difficult to predict, though Tennessee, Kentucky, Florida, Texas, Alabama, Missouri and Pennsylvania tend to have the most sinkholes among U.S. states.