On 10/7, a joint team from Phu Tho province's Department of Construction and Department of Agriculture and Environment, along with experts from the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, inspected the sinkhole in Tham hamlet, Muong Hoa commune (formerly Tan Lac district, Hoa Binh province).

The sinkhole first appeared on 29/6 at the corner of Bui Thi Thuong's house in Tham hamlet, initially about 1 m in diameter. It then expanded, causing her one-story house, built in 2017, to tilt. The wall between the main house and the kitchen separated, and cracks appeared in the walls and tiled floor. Five members of Thuong's family were evacuated for safety.

The sinkhole undermined the house's foundation by 1.5 m in Muong Hoa. Photo: Muong Hoa Commune Police.

Phu Tho's Department of Agriculture and Environment believes the sinkhole could widen and has requested experts from the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology to assess the cause and recommend solutions.

The former Tan Lac district has an average elevation of 500-700 m and is characterized by terrain dissected by rivers, streams, and narrow valleys. The area is known for its limestone mountains and small rivers. The weathering of limestone has created a system of caves, underground streams, and sinkholes.

On 11/6, another sinkhole appeared on the side of National Highway 21B in Thuong Coc commune, Phu Tho province (formerly Thuong Coc commune, Lac Son district, Hoa Binh province). This sinkhole expanded to 6 m in diameter and 1.5 m deep.

Gia Chinh