How do you fix a sink hole this big?

[RStar]

This is the most amazing and horrific sink hole I have ever seen! And after the shock of it, I got to thinking- how in the world can you fix something that massive? You could just fence it off to keep people from falling in, but it would just continue to erode and get larger.

Check it out! (http://www.aolnews.com/world/article/tropical-storm-agatha-opens-giant-sinkhole-in-guatemala-city/19498396)

It's in Guatemala, and opened up right after tropical storm Agatha passed.

[cirquelover]

That's one helluva sink hole! It looks like it was perfectly drilled. Absolutely crazy that it swallowed a couple buildings with it too!

[Moonliner]

I got to thinking- how in the world can you fix something that massive?


I say we run a pipe from the Gulf and dump all the oil in there. Then call up Moët & Chandon to place an order for one very large cork.

[scaeagles]

It was clearly made by aliens. Agatha is just the cover story.

[JWBear]

It was clearly made by aliens. Agatha is just the cover story.

No... HAARP.

[scaeagles]

No... HAARP.

They'll kill you now that you know. Run. Hide.

[Kevy Baby]

How do you fix a sink hole this big?Very carefully

[Gemini Cricket]

It's going to take a lot of Spackle to fill that sinkhole...

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Don't fill it, just sell tickets to the Journey to the Center of the Earth.

[Kevy Baby]

In looking at the hole further, I am amazed by what appears to be almost perfectly straight sides to the hole. To the best of my recollection, sink-holes typically have sloped sides.

Also, I was astounded by the amount of rainfall the area got:
Agatha dumped more than three feet of rain on Guatemala and El Salvador over the weekend...

[Moonliner]

In looking at the hole further, I am amazed by what appears to be almost perfectly straight sides to the hole. To the best of my recollection, sink-holes typically have sloped sides.


I'll have to start trolling the conspiracy web sites to see what they come up with. I can't decide between errant test of a space based energy weapon and an alien something or other.

[Alex]

To the best of my recollection, sink-holes typically have sloped sides.

I was thinking the same thing but in looking at sinkhole pictures online I'm seeing that it seems to be pretty common for big ones to have pretty straight lines and be surprisingly circular. Such as this one in Texas in 2003:

http://www.co.winkler.tx.us/images/sinkhole7.jpg

[JWBear]

How do you fix a sink hole this big?

With duct tape, of course! Lots and lots of duct tape.

[Kevy Baby]

Interesting, while the original story linked says the hole is 200 feet deep, an AP News story (http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h9f2OfKr8ygFy00FuMUoDG689YBQD9G2O3M80) lists it at 100 feet. Can't somebody get out a tape measure and settle this matter?

Out of morbid curiosity, I wanted to know how many dump-truck loads of dirt it would take to fill the sink-hole. Using the measurements from the AP New link (66 feet across x 100 feet deep), I calculate that there is approximately 342,257 cubic feet of hole that needs to be filled in. The average three-axle dump truck can hold about 10 cubic yards or 270 cubic feet. So, about 1,268 trips of the dump truck would be required (not accounting for further erosion, compaction, etc.).

I was curious about how many trips the Liebherr TI 274 would require.

http://www.liebherr.us/images/Liebherr-TI274-600.jpg

Since all the capacity ratings for this beast are given in terms of weight and not volume, a little conversion was required. Using 1,000 pounds as the weight of one cubic yard of top soil (highly variable due to moisture content), this would mean that the hole requires about 6,338 tons of dirt. Since the TI 274 can handle about 320 tons per load, this truck would only require about 20 loads of dirt. I think they should use one of these :D

[Kevy Baby]

I was thinking the same thing but in looking at sinkhole pictures online I'm seeing that it seems to be pretty common for big ones to have pretty straight lines and be surprisingly circular. Such as this one in Texas in 2003: (picture removed)But even in looking at this one, you can still see some pronounced angle to what can be seen of the sides - especially in the upper left area of the whole. Plus, on this example, we are seeing a relatively small portion of the actual hole (due to the water).

But looking further (http://www.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&tbs=isch:1&ei=xJoFTMH6ItOe_AaO0-nJBQ&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=giant+sinkhole&spell=1), a cursory glance seems to indicate that at least towards the tops, the edges are pretty straight. However, I still think the Guatemala sinkhole is awfully straight-sided.

[Not Afraid]

Interesting, while the original story linked says the hole is 200 feet deep, an AP News story (http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h9f2OfKr8ygFy00FuMUoDG689YBQD9G2O3M80) lists it at 100 feet. Can't somebody get out a tape measure and settle this matter?

Out of morbid curiosity, I wanted to know how many dump-truck loads of dirt it would take to fill the sink-hole. Using the measurements from the AP New link (66 feet across x 100 feet deep), I calculate that there is approximately 342,257 cubic feet of hole that needs to be filled in. The average three-axle dump truck can hold about 10 cubic yards or 270 cubic feet. So, about 1,268 trips of the dump truck would be required (not accounting for further erosion, compaction, etc.).

I was curious about how many trips the Liebherr TI 274 would require.

http://www.liebherr.us/images/Liebherr-TI274-600.jpg

Since all the capacity ratings for this beast are given in terms of weight and not volume, a little conversion was required. Using 1,000 pounds as the weight of one cubic yard of top soil (highly variable due to moisture content), this would mean that the hole requires about 6,338 tons of dirt. Since the TI 274 can handle about 320 tons per load, this truck would only require about 20 loads of dirt. I think they should use one of these :D

I think one of these, filled with dirt, would just cause another sinkhole.

[RStar]

I think one of these, filled with dirt, would just cause another sinkhole.

Good point! I wouldn't want to drive it to the edge, would you? :eek:

One thing that makes me wonder about "filling in the hole" is the fact that there is no bottom. It seems to open up to a large cavern. If the hole is only but the tip of the iceberg in this void, then how in the world could they begin to repair this? Or will it just become a permanent and ever widening hole? (Which reminds me of some people I know)

[Alex]

Or will it just become a permanent and ever widening hole?

You know, it really had been a long time since I last thought of goatse.cx. Thanks for bringing that to an end.

[Kevy Baby]

Wow (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goatse.cx) (link itself to Wikipedia is safe - the descriptions not so much)

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Googling Goatse is a huge mistake.

[Alex]

Yeah, but it doesn't it hearken back to the days when the internet was youngish and so innocent?

Only a short time before that we were were all so pissed off when Canter and Siegel has the temerity to commercially spam USENET.

[RStar]

You know, it really had been a long time since I last thought of goatse.cx. Thanks for bringing that to an end.

You are welcome!

So, now we know what you were really spending your time in college on. :D

And I agree, duct tape may be the answer!

[Tref]

Knowing Guatemala they'll probably just cover it up with some branches and leaves.

Fun fact: In some countries they fill sinkholes with horses!

(Pic related -- It's a horse in a hole)
http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z1/Tref_foto/horsehole.jpg

[DreadPirateRoberts]

I'm constantly amazed at the things I learn here.

[RStar]

I think the horse is just playing Peek-a-boo.....