Latest news with #AntoniadosAnjos
Ammon
23-02-2025
- Science
- Ammon
Brazilian city in Amazon declares emergency after huge sinkholes appear
Ammon News - Authorities in a city in the Brazilian Amazon have declared a state of emergency after huge sinkholes opened up, threatening hundreds of homes. Several buildings in Buriticupu, in Maranhão state, have already been destroyed, and about 1,200 people of a population of 55,000 risk losing their homes into a widening abyss. 'In the space of the last few months, the dimensions have expanded exponentially, approaching substantially closer to the residences,' an emergency decree issued by the city government earlier this month said about the sinkholes. The recent sinkholes are an escalation of a problem that residents of Buriticupu have been watching unfold for the last 30 years, as rains slowly erode soils made vulnerable by their sandy nature, plus a combination of poorly planned building work and deforestation. The large soil erosions are known in Brazil as 'voçoroca', a word of Indigenous origins that means 'to tear the earth' and is the equivalent of sinkholes. The problem becomes worse in periods of heavy rain such as the current one, says Marcelino Farias, a geographer and professor at the Federal University of Maranhao. Antonia dos Anjos, who has lived in Buriticupu for 22 years, fears more sinkholes will soon appear. 'There's this danger right in front of us, and nobody knows where this hole has been opening up underneath,' the 65-year-old said. Buriticupu secretary of public works, and an engineer, Lucas Conceiçao said the municipality clearly does not have the capacity to find solutions for the complex sinkhole situation.
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Watch: Sinkholes threaten thousands in Brazil
A state of emergency has been declared in the Brazilian Amazon after massive sinkholes opened up, threatening thousands of homes. Several buildings in the city of Buriticupu, in Maranhão state, have already been destroyed, with around 1,200 people at risk of losing their homes to the widening abyss. 'In the space of the last few months, the dimensions have expanded exponentially, approaching substantially closer to the residences,' said an emergency decree issued by the city government earlier this month about the sinkholes. Pictures from Buriticupu show how the sinkholes have divided tree-lined forests near a row of houses. Some of the houses, which have been abandoned, have already started to collapse as the sinkhole widens. The recent sinkholes, which are several metres deep, mark the escalation of a problem that residents in Buriticupu have witnessed for three decades. Rain has slowly eroded soils, known in Brazil as 'voçoroca', a word of indigenous origins that means 'to tear the earth' and is the equivalent of sinkholes. Poorly planned building work and deforestation has also put thousands of homes at risk. The problem has worsened during periods of heavy rain, as has occurred recently, according to Marcelino Farias, a professor at the University of Maranhão. Antonia dos Anjos, who has lived in Buriticupu for 22 years, fears more sinkholes will soon appear. 'There's this danger right in front of us, and nobody knows where this hole has been opening up underneath,' the 65-year-old said. Lucas Conceiçao, an engineer and the secretary of public works in Buriticupu, said the municipality clearly does not have the capacity to find solutions for the complex sinkhole situation. 'These problems range from the erosion processes to the removal of people who are in the risk area,' he said. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Massive sinkholes put hundreds in Amazonian town at risk
BURITICUPU, Brazil (Reuters) - The city of Buriticupu, in the northeastern tip of the Brazilian Amazon, is being slowly swallowed by the earth. In recent weeks, huge sinkholes, several meters (feet) deep, have led the municipal government to declare a state of emergency. Some 1,200 people of total 55,000 population are at risk of having their homes tip into the widening abyss. "In the space of the last few months, the dimensions have expanded exponentially, approaching substantially closer to the residences," an emergency decree issued by the city government earlier this month said about the sinkholes. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Several buildings have already been destroyed, the decree said. The recent sinkholes are an escalation of a problem that residents of Buriticupu, in Maranhao state, have been watching unfold for the last 30 years, as rains slowly erode soils made vulnerable by their sandy nature, plus a combination of poorly planned building work and deforestation. The large soil erosions are known in Brazil as "voçoroca", a word of indigenous origins that means "to tear the earth" and is the equivalent of sinkholes. The problem becomes worse in periods of heavy rain such as the current one, says Marcelino Farias, a geographer and professor at the Federal University of Maranhao. Antonia dos Anjos, who has lived in Buriticupu for 22 years, fears more sinkholes will soon appear. "There's this danger right in front of us, and nobody knows where this hole has been opening up underneath," the 65 year old said. Buriticupu secretary of public works, and an engineer, Lucas Conceicao said the municipality clearly does not have the capacity to find solutions for the complex sinkhole situation. "These problems range from the erosion processes to the removal of people who are in the risk area," he said. (Reporting Mauricio Marinho and Sergio Queiroz; Writing by Isabel Teles; Editing by Sandra Maler)
Reuters
21-02-2025
- Science
- Reuters
Massive sinkholes put hundreds in Amazonian town at risk
BURITICUPU, Brazil, Feb 21 (Reuters) - The city of Buriticupu, in the northeastern tip of the Brazilian Amazon, is being slowly swallowed by the earth. In recent weeks, huge sinkholes, several meters (feet) deep, have led the municipal government to declare a state of emergency. Some 1,200 people of total 55,000 population are at risk of having their homes tip into the widening abyss. "In the space of the last few months, the dimensions have expanded exponentially, approaching substantially closer to the residences," an emergency decree issued by the city government earlier this month said about the sinkholes. Several buildings have already been destroyed, the decree said. The recent sinkholes are an escalation of a problem that residents of Buriticupu, in Maranhao state, have been watching unfold for the last 30 years, as rains slowly erode soils made vulnerable by their sandy nature, plus a combination of poorly planned building work and deforestation. The large soil erosions are known in Brazil as "voçoroca", a word of indigenous origins that means "to tear the earth" and is the equivalent of sinkholes. The problem becomes worse in periods of heavy rain such as the current one, says Marcelino Farias, a geographer and professor at the Federal University of Maranhao. Antonia dos Anjos, who has lived in Buriticupu for 22 years, fears more sinkholes will soon appear. "There's this danger right in front of us, and nobody knows where this hole has been opening up underneath," the 65 year old said. Buriticupu secretary of public works, and an engineer, Lucas Conceicao said the municipality clearly does not have the capacity to find solutions for the complex sinkhole situation. "These problems range from the erosion processes to the removal of people who are in the risk area," he said. Make sense of the latest ESG trends affecting companies and governments with the Reuters Sustainable Switch newsletter. Sign up here.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Massive sinkholes put hundreds in Amazonian town at risk
BURITICUPU, Brazil (Reuters) - The city of Buriticupu, in the northeastern tip of the Brazilian Amazon, is being slowly swallowed by the earth. In recent weeks, huge sinkholes, several meters (feet) deep, have led the municipal government to declare a state of emergency. Some 1,200 people of total 55,000 population are at risk of having their homes tip into the widening abyss. "In the space of the last few months, the dimensions have expanded exponentially, approaching substantially closer to the residences," an emergency decree issued by the city government earlier this month said about the sinkholes. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Several buildings have already been destroyed, the decree said. The recent sinkholes are an escalation of a problem that residents of Buriticupu, in Maranhao state, have been watching unfold for the last 30 years, as rains slowly erode soils made vulnerable by their sandy nature, plus a combination of poorly planned building work and deforestation. The large soil erosions are known in Brazil as "voçoroca", a word of indigenous origins that means "to tear the earth" and is the equivalent of sinkholes. The problem becomes worse in periods of heavy rain such as the current one, says Marcelino Farias, a geographer and professor at the Federal University of Maranhao. Antonia dos Anjos, who has lived in Buriticupu for 22 years, fears more sinkholes will soon appear. "There's this danger right in front of us, and nobody knows where this hole has been opening up underneath," the 65 year old said. Buriticupu secretary of public works, and an engineer, Lucas Conceicao said the municipality clearly does not have the capacity to find solutions for the complex sinkhole situation. "These problems range from the erosion processes to the removal of people who are in the risk area," he said. (Reporting Mauricio Marinho and Sergio Queiroz; Writing by Isabel Teles; Editing by Sandra Maler)
