MECENCANI, Croatia (AP) – After the deadly earthquake came the sinkholes.
A central Croatian region, about 40 kilometers (25 mi) southwest of the capital, Zagreb, is riddled with round holes of all shapes and sizes, which appeared after the magnitude 6.4 earthquake in December that killed seven people around it. life and caused widespread destruction.
Scientists have flocked to Mecencani and other villages in the sparsely populated region for observation and study.
“These are so-called drop-out sinkholes, and they have appeared because of the specific geological makeup of this area, as the soil rests on limestone rocks that are heavily saturated with groundwater,” said geologist Josip Terzic of the Croatian Geological Survey.
While the appearance of sinkholes is not uncommon after strong seismic activity, residents are baffled by their numbers – about 100 have been spotted in the past two months – and the speed at which they emerged after the great December 29 earthquake, which was followed by a series of aftershocks. Geologists have said the temblor accelerated the process of sinkhole formation that would normally have taken years, if not decades.
Terzic said scientists are planning different methods of exploration to determine underwater morphology and other features. He spoke to The Associated Press while standing next to a large sinkhole that he said was up to 15 feet deep and the same width.
Some sinkholes have appeared on people’s homes or on their farmland, prompting authorities to exercise caution. Nenad Tomasevic, a teacher from Mecencani, said it all seemed too much.
“The earthquake itself felt quite unpleasant to say the least. And then these holes started to pop up, ”said Tomasevic, who had to move to a neighbor’s house after an expanding hole appeared in his backyard.
“Experts say these sinkholes would have formed naturally over time, but the earthquake acted as a kind of catalyst that unfortunately accelerated the whole process,” he added.
About three months after the earthquake, the worst affected area is still suffering its destruction, with many houses still in ruins and the region’s main town, Petrinja, half deserted. Occasional earthquakes, including those of magnitude 4 or more, can still be felt, further upsetting residents and adding to the pandemic woes of the coronavirus.