A sinkhole emerged on a pavement in Douliu, Taiwan, on 31 August 2024, according to China Times. The pavement in front of a housing agency on Wenhua Road, Douliu City, collapsed with a sudden “boom” into a 7m-long, 4m-wide, and 1.5m-deep sinkhole. Passers-by, including agents at the housing agency, customers at a breakfast shop opposite the road, and people at a nearby clinic, were “shocked” by the noise. Fortunately, no one was on the pavement at the time, but two parked motorcycles fell into the hole and were damaged. Falling cement pipes also damaged water pipes at the site.
Background
China Times reported that the site was a farmland water conservancy ditch with two layers of cement covering it, and the structure of the pavement is quite old. The Douliu City Office promptly set up a safety cordon and other warning features around the site to prevent further incidents.
Not the first time
This is not the first time sinkholes have appeared in Taiwan. In February 2024, a section of a road in Taipei’s Songshan district sank, tilting four cars. In September 2023, a sinkhole appeared in the middle of the night on Taipei’s Nanjing West Road. Additionally, in August 2023, three different sinkholes appeared over a single weekend in Taipei, raising concerns about road safety in the city.
Global occurrences
The sinkhole on 31 August 2024, follows a spate of sinkhole appearances around the world. On 23 August 2024, a 48-year-old Indian woman fell into a sinkhole in Kuala Lumpur. The search for her body was called off after nine days due to safety concerns. On 29 August 2024, a sinkhole appeared in the middle of a road in Seoul, causing a car to fall in and leaving two seniors seriously injured.
Safety measures and future implications
The recurring incidents of sinkholes in Taiwan and globally highlight the need for improved infrastructure and regular maintenance. Local authorities in Douliu and other affected areas are urged to conduct thorough inspections and reinforce older structures to prevent future occurrences. The Douliu City Office’s swift response in setting up safety measures around the recent sinkhole site is a positive step, but continuous vigilance and proactive measures are essential to ensure public safety.
