BAYOU CORNE, LA (WAFB) -
The giant sinkhole in south
Louisiana isn't getting any smaller, which is evident by more land being
swallowed up recently.
New video was posted to YouTube Monday
by the Assumption Parish Police Jury. The video shows bubbling, and then a
chunk of land on the sinkhole's eastern side sinks underwater.
The video was recorded just days
after another was posted showing more trees being swallowing up. Officials said
there was a burp and slough-in Wednesday afternoon, which resulted in debris
and six trees being gobbled up by the sinkhole.
History of the Sinkhole
The sinkhole opened up in August 2012 and was roughly 1/24 of the
size it is now. The sinkhole formed when an underground salt cavern
collapsed.
In the past, seismic activity is reported, then the sinkhole burps up
debris and then a slough-in happens. Burps occur when air and gas from
deep in the sinkhole bubbles up. It can cause debris and an oily
substance to float to the top. A slough-in is when the sinkhole swallows
trees and land that is on the edge of the sinkhole.
Berms were placed around the sinkhole shortly after it opened up to
keep the oily, debris filled water contained to the sinkhole area so it
would not contaminate the area bayous.
It has more than a year since hundreds living near the giant sinkhole were forced from their homes.
Bubbles were spotted in Bayou Corne and Grand Bayou in June 2012. Two
months later, the ground opened up and left what is now a 29-acre
sinkhole. Residents were evacuated and the most affected residents began
receiving weekly checks from Texas-Brine in the amount of $875 per
week. Texas Brine owns the salt cavern that collapsed, causing the
sinkhole.
On August 2, Gov. Bobby Jindal and Attorney General Buddy Caldwell
announced the state will be suing Texas Brine for environmental damages
caused by the failed Texas Brine cavern.
Parish and Texas Brine officials agree the situation is far from
over. 3D seismic surveys show the sinkhole itself it beginning to slow
and stabilize, but the recovery is focused on another danger; natural
gas gathering underneath a nearby aquifer.
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2014 WAFB. All rights
reserved.
Source: Assumption Parish OEP
