Sudden Ground Fissures Appear in Eastern Gezira Village, Geologists Explain Phenomenon

Wad Madani – Sudanhorizon

Residents of Al-Hamdallab Al-Shukriya village in eastern Gezira State observed a sudden subsidence of the ground surface that raised questions about its cause. The General Authority for Geological Research explained that the phenomenon is scientifically known as a sinkhole, a condition in which the ground surface rapidly sinks or collapses due to the movement or erosion of loose materials in subsurface layers.

Consultant geologist Dr. Hamad Bashir said Tuesday that sinkholes and sudden ground subsidence can result from natural and human factors that cause soil or rock beneath the surface to lose its load-bearing capacity. They can also occur as a result of the dissolution of limestone or salt formations by groundwater.

He explained that contributing natural factors include tectonic activity and soil shrinkage, while human factors include intensive groundwater extraction, which can alter soil structure and lead to the formation of underground voids.

He noted that the risks posed by the phenomenon are not limited to the ground surface but may extend to buildings, roads, water and gas networks, and other infrastructure.

Consultant geologist Mohamed Abdelrahman Aqeed explained that rainwater absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and soil, particularly carbon dioxide produced by the decomposition of organic matter, resulting in the formation of carbonic acid. As this water seeps through cracks into the ground, it reacts with rocks rich in calcium carbonate, particularly limestone and dolomite. This can gradually dissolve parts of these formations and create underground cavities, which in some cases may eventually cause the ground surface to collapse suddenly.

The authority confirmed that sinkholes are a well-known geological phenomenon worldwide. However, determining the cause of a sinkhole at a specific location requires field inspection and geological and hydrogeological studies of the area, including the nature of the rocks and soil, groundwater levels, rainfall drainage patterns, and factors affecting the stability of subsurface layers.

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