The recent opening of two sinkholes in São José dos Campos has sparked concerns among residents due to a long-standing history of similar incidents in the area.
In São José dos Campos, Brazil, a troubling pattern of sinkholes continues to emerge, with two significant craters appearing in just eleven days on Felisbina de Souza Machado Street in the Jardim Imperial neighborhood. This area has a documented history of ground subsidence over the past fifteen years, leaving the community grappling with the recurring issue. The latest incident, occurring on Saturday, led to the evacuation of two homes and a building with thirty-four apartments, highlighting the impact of such geological disturbances on local housing.
The first sinkhole this year was reported on January 27, where the ground collapsed dramatically enough to swallow a truck. Just recently, in light of heavy rainfall, an older crater also expanded, raising fears of further collapses. The new craters formed mere meters apart from each other, prompting immediate action from the authorities who have cordoned off the affected areas and are currently monitoring the situation closely. The local Civil Defense is involved in assessing the causes of these sinkholes, although the exact reasons remain undetermined.
Residents of the Zona Sul neighborhood are understandably alarmed over the recurring incidents of ground subsidence, especially given the recent scale of damage. The fear of new sinkholes looms large among them, compounded by the devastation seen in this year’s occurrences. Efforts to identify and address the underlying causes of these sinkholes are critical, as they not only pose safety hazards but also threaten the stability of housing and infrastructure in that region.
