Geological Hazards: Landslides and Sinkholes

Objectives:

1. Discuss the different geological hazards.

2. Analyze the causes of geological hazards.
3. Recognize signs of impending geological hazards.

Geological Hazards

Geological hazards are gradual or sudden natural earth processes which cause injury, loss of life, property
damage, loss of livelihood and services, social and economic disruption, or environmental changes. These include
earthquakes, landslides, volcanic eruption, sinkholes etc. This module discusses the geological hazards landslides
especially rainfall-induced landslides and sinkholes.

There are three major causes of landslides:

a. Geology – this refers to the material of the soil or rock in the area or can be the layers of earth has weakened or
stiffened in some part.
b. Morphology – this refers to the structure of the land. The soil or rock has weakened through loss of vegetation or
root system which holds the soil in place. Another is prolonged rainfall or heavy water leakage that increases the
weight of the land mass therefore as the water flows, sediments and soils also comes with it.
c. Human activity – to make way for agriculture and construction, trees are needed to be cut down. Irrigation,
deforestation, and excavation can weaken the integrity of the earth.

The most common landslide we have experienced here in the Philippines is the rainfall-induced landslide. This is
what we will be focusing on in terms of the impending signs and on the mitigation in the next module.

Rainfall-induced Landslide

This occurs due to prolonged or heavy rainfall, increasing the weight of the land mass. The development of a
rainfall-induced landslide may take several days but the landslide itself will only take a few minutes to cause a disaster.
Rainfall-induced landslides can form debris flows when they mix with additional water and sediments from their path. It
may sweep away a whole community in an instant.

The diagram shows an example of a rainfall-induced landslide:

The impending signs of a rainfall-induced landslide

Rainfall-induced landslide can happen anytime during a heavy and prolonged rainfall. We cannot tell when
exactly it will happen but there are some signs that may indicate so:

• Unusual noises, such as breaking trees, or knocking boulders together, can mean moving debris.
• As the landslide nears, a slight rumbling sound that rises in amplitude is noticeable.
• Rapid rise in water levels of the creeks, likely followed by increased turbidity (soil content).

The Early Warning System (EWS) of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHILVOCS) and
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) are monitoring systems
designed to forecast events accompanying landslides in order to provide a warning about hazards. By reducing the
impact, it mitigates risk.

2. Sinkhole

A sinkhole is a depression or hole caused by the collapse of the surface layer of the ground. Water is the primary
cause of most sinkholes when it dissolves soluble rocks such as limestone, dolomite, and gypsum.

Sinkholes has two kinds, natural or man-made. Natural sinkholes are caused by physical or chemical erosion. The
natural flow of water may erode rock material while acidic substances may also dissolve and eventually weaken it. Man-
made sinkholes are caused by drilling, mining, road construction, and broken water or underground pipes. Water may
penetrate through mud and rocks and eventually erode the ground underneath.

Types of sinkholes

1. Solution sinkholes – are common in areas that have thin cover of soil on the surface of the ground which exposes
the bedrock to water erosion. As the bedrock erodes, particles collect in the spaces it leaves and a small
depression is formed over a period, eventually forming a hole. The bedrock may collapse suddenly, or it may
happen over time.
2. Cover Subsidence Sinkholes - this occur when the bedrock is covered by soil and materials that are not well-
knitted together. The soil in these areas are made mostly of clay or sand. Once the bedrock starts to erode, the
clay or sand starts to enter through the cracks and settles into the spaces left behind, creating a cavity on the
surface of the soil.
3. Cover Collapse Sinkholes – occur when the bedrock is covered by a deep layer of soil and earth. A crack starts
once the bedrock begins to get eroded. Weak points begin to form in the layers of soil above it. The weak points
eventually become a large hole within the bedrock that cannot support the weight above it. The collapse occurs
in an instant and can create large holes in a matter of minutes.

The impending signs of a sinkhole

Sinkholes either man-made or natural can occur anytime. We cannot tell when will the hole emerge but there
are some signs that may indicate an impending disaster.

• New cracks at the foundations of buildings and houses

• Cracks in an area
• Depressions at ground level
• Rapid appearance of a crater in the ground
Choose the letter of the best answer and write it on a separate sheet of paper.

1. After the 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Bohol last 2013, almost 100 sinkholes were said to be found all over the
city of Tagbilaran. How were these sinkholes formed?
A. The city was near the coastlines.
B. The rivers lead up to the holes that why it was found.
C. The holes formed at the bottom of the ocean then rose to the surface.
D. The holes formed in the ground when rocks and dirt moved away under the surface.

2. What is the primary cause of sinkholes?

A. water
B. fallen trees
C. infrastructures
D. nutrient dense soil

3. The side of the mountain is slowly exposing a big rock underneath it. The local government unit told the
residents nearby that it is eroding and will expect that it may cause a landslide during a torrential rain. What do
they mean when the LGU said it is “eroding”?
A. The soil rises to the ground.
B. The soil form new rocks and minerals.
C. The soil is getting thicker and more compact.
D. The soil is picked up and moved to another place.

4. During the La Niña in the Philippines, torrential rain usually occurs from time to time and pours over a large area
of the land. Overtime on the slopes of the mountains, rainfall-induced landslides happen. Why do such events
occur?
A. Because the area is a slope, it is natural that the excessive water will run down the hill and bring with it
soil, rocks, and other debris.
B. The possibility of having no trees to absorb water or to hold the soil and debris on the slope of the
mountain may contribute to the rainfall-induced landslide.
C. The soil in the area may already be saturated with water due to the occurrence of torrential rains every
now and then.
D. All of the above.

5. Bohol island is covered with limestones, this is usually the cause of sinkholes in the island. What best describes a
limestone?
A. A kind of rock that can cause sinkholes.
B. A kind of tree that can be used for lumber.
C. A kind of sinkhole that is usually associated with sudden rupture of the ground.
D. A kind of erosion that happens when the trees are cut down to make way for human development.

6. Which of the following is an impending sign for rainfall-induced landslide?

A. Lower water levels of the creeks.
B. Trees are swaying with the wind.
C. New cracks at the foundations of buildings and houses.
D. Unusual noises, such as breaking trees, or knocking boulders together.
7. In other countries, some of the large sinkholes that form on their lands are used as dumpsites. If the Philippines
would adopt this kind of activity, what do you think will happen?
A. The country’s problem with trash will have a solution.
B. Water resources near the sinkholes could be contaminated.
C. The sinkhole may further collapse if tons and tons of trash will be thrown in the hole.
D. All of the above.

8. Which of the following does NOT cause a landslide?

A. Rocks flowing down the stream.
B. Trees being cut down to make way for development.
C. Soil that have fractures and is weak.
D. Slopes losing the vegetation due to drought.

9. The Juan corporation bought a piece of land to build their new project. Together with the local government unit
they identified possible sinkholes that may appear on the land. They observed that there is only a thin layer of
soil covering the bedrock underneath the land and the bedrock is starting to erode and to have a depression.
What type of sinkhole did the land surveyors identified?
A. solution sinkholes
B. dissolution sinkholes
C. cover collapse sinkhole
D. cover subsidence sinkhole

10. Which of the following is a geological hazard?

A. sinkhole
B. earthquake
C. landslides
D. All of the above.

11. The Juan corporation wants to create a subdivision overlooking the sea. They acquired a good sum of land on a
mountain slope near the bay but before they can proceed with construction, they need to cut down all the trees
in the area. What do you think will happen if torrential rain pours after all the trees were cut down?
A. Soil erosion due to drought could transpire.
B. A sinkhole might form due to the presence of limestone in the area.
C. Rainfall-induced landslide is prevalent during the typhoon season thus creating more rain drops over the
coming months.
D. Removing the trees and vegetation may increase the risk of a landslide.

12. What will happen if the sides of a hill regularly experience a rainfall-induced landslide?
A. The bottom of the hill will be covered with mud and other debris present in the slope.
B. The slopes of the hill will be mostly run down due to the regular occurrence of landslides.
C. During torrential rains, the water will just continue to flow down the bottom of the hill and flood the
area.
D. All of the above.

13. Natural sinkholes are usually caused by physical and chemical erosion. A sinkhole may appear overtime but
sometimes may suddenly form after a large earthquake. How can you tell if there is a possibility of a sinkhole
forming in your home?
A. There are cracks on the foundation of the house.
B. There are cracks on the soil surrounding the house.
 C. There are craters and depressions forming in the ground.
D. All of the above.

14. Mark observed that the soil at their backyard was made of a mixture of clay and sand, and somewhat a bit loose.
A shallow depression can be seen forming. He called the attention of their barangay and they said that a sinkhole
is forming. What kind of sinkhole is being formed?
A. sinkholes
B. solution sinkholes
C. cover collapse sinkholes
D. cover subsidence sinkhole

15. What type of sinkhole occurs when the bedrock is covered by a deep layer of soil and earth then the bedrock
erodes resulting into a hole?
A. sinkholes
B. solution sinkholes
C. cover collapse sinkholes
D. cover subsidence sinkhole