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Sinkhole in Puebla farmland grows to nearly 70 meters in 24 hours

Juan C. Bonilla, Puebla — A sinkhole that developed and grew to a substantial in size in less than a day, is being blamed on a geological fault. The massive hole, which is currently nearing 70 meters in diameter, suddenly appeared Saturday in the town of Juan C. Bonilla in the state of Puebla.

Due to its continued growth, Governor Miguel Barbosa Huerta said that they were putting measures in place to prevent curious onlookers from approaching. The hole, which was deemed to initially be approximately eight meters in depth, emerged in the middle of a cultivation area.

When the hole was first noticed, it was only five meters in diameter, however in 24 hours, it expanded to nearly 70 meters across and is now 20 meters deep. The Ministry of the Environment reported that their first investigations determined that it is the Alto Atoyac geological fault.

Barbosa Huerta said that authorities from State Civil Protection and the National Water Commission (CONAGUA) have arrived at the site in the municipality of Juan C. Bonilla and continue to investigate, adding that a full report to determine that cause could take as long as 30 days.

On Sunday, authorities in Santa Casilda, Michoacán were also left to deal with the caving in of a section of highway after it collapsed due to soil erosion. The collapse began as a series of cracks on May 16, and progressed until a section finally caved in. Authorities say the soil erosion is likely due to the Francisco J. Múgica dam.