Buriticupu, a city known for its giant craters in Maranhão, Brazil, is facing a significant increase in the problem of gullies, which has become a source of anxiety for its residents. Each rainy season exacerbates the situation, as giant fissures open up on the city’s peripheries, shaking homes and rattling the nerves of locals, as illustrated by resident Ana Maria Ribeiro who describes the experience as similar to a strong thunderclap.

The formation of these craters, which have been appearing for almost 40 years, is attributed to the passage of rainwater through sandy soil without vegetation for protection. As Professor Marcelino Farias from the Federal University of Maranhão explains, the lack of an effective urban planning strategy has led to roads being paved without adequate drainage, causing rainwater to funnel into slopes that then collapse into new gullies. The problem highlights the consequences of unmanaged urban development in this vulnerable region.

Research indicates that there are currently 33 craters in Buriticupu and the issue continues to worsen. With increasing urbanization and climate challenges, the residents of Buriticupu are left grappling with the implications of living on vulnerable land, making it imperative for local authorities to address proper urban planning and implement drainage solutions to curb this growing crisis.