TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The people of this city who heard about the earth movement in sitio Lapat in barangay Cabaritan especially those living nearby could now breath a sigh of relief after a geologist from the Mines and Geoscience Bureau (MGB) declared that the phenomenon is not a volcano in the making but a mere rotational landslide or slumping.
Geologist Benigno Espejo who came along with Geologic Aide Vemor Almazen said that the mound of soft rock which protruded on the Tuga Creek bed is the toe of the rotational landslide, or the earth being pushed up by the slumping earth upslope of the adjacent hill.
The two MGB personnel who went to evaluate the phenomenon on August 26 in response to the request of the Tabuk City LGU found numerous fissures or cracks which are as wide as a meter upslope of the hill some 100 meters from the toe which they said indicated that the ground on that portion is slumping.
Regarding the reported smell emanating from the toe, Espejo said that such foul smell which he denied is sulfuric contrary to earlier claims of some people is characteristic of the mudstone which makes up the toe.
The two MGB personnel see no immediate danger to life and property arising from the phenomenon as it is away from human habitation. They, however, warned people living downstream of the Tuga Creek of possible flash floods just in case the toe collapses from the weight of water impounded upstream during prolonged rains.
“We thought God was going to punish us. We now could sleep soundly,” said Cabaritan Barangay Captain Ronulfo Madarang upon hearing the findings of the MGB geologist.
Residents of the barangay and other people in the barangay were alarmed upon hearing of the protrusion of the earth swelling on the bed of the Tuga Creek which forced the diversion of the watercourse ripping through the adjoining cornfields. Many of them feared that it was an incipient volcano.
The swelling or toe which started to protrude in January this year with the growth escalating in July is estimated to be 70 meters long, nine meters high from the original level at the highest point and 20 meters across at the widest point.
The MGB personnel were accompanied by Tabuk City LGU people headed by Councilor Lester Lee Tarnate, OIC-Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Ricardo Dang-iw, Dominic Sugguiyao of the Kalinga Environment and Natural Resources Office, Office of Civil Defense Provincial Coordinator Cristeta Reyes, several mediamen and Madarang.**By Estanislao Albano, Jr., ZZW
Geologist Benigno Espejo who came along with Geologic Aide Vemor Almazen said that the mound of soft rock which protruded on the Tuga Creek bed is the toe of the rotational landslide, or the earth being pushed up by the slumping earth upslope of the adjacent hill.
The two MGB personnel who went to evaluate the phenomenon on August 26 in response to the request of the Tabuk City LGU found numerous fissures or cracks which are as wide as a meter upslope of the hill some 100 meters from the toe which they said indicated that the ground on that portion is slumping.
Regarding the reported smell emanating from the toe, Espejo said that such foul smell which he denied is sulfuric contrary to earlier claims of some people is characteristic of the mudstone which makes up the toe.
The two MGB personnel see no immediate danger to life and property arising from the phenomenon as it is away from human habitation. They, however, warned people living downstream of the Tuga Creek of possible flash floods just in case the toe collapses from the weight of water impounded upstream during prolonged rains.
“We thought God was going to punish us. We now could sleep soundly,” said Cabaritan Barangay Captain Ronulfo Madarang upon hearing the findings of the MGB geologist.
Residents of the barangay and other people in the barangay were alarmed upon hearing of the protrusion of the earth swelling on the bed of the Tuga Creek which forced the diversion of the watercourse ripping through the adjoining cornfields. Many of them feared that it was an incipient volcano.
The swelling or toe which started to protrude in January this year with the growth escalating in July is estimated to be 70 meters long, nine meters high from the original level at the highest point and 20 meters across at the widest point.
The MGB personnel were accompanied by Tabuk City LGU people headed by Councilor Lester Lee Tarnate, OIC-Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Ricardo Dang-iw, Dominic Sugguiyao of the Kalinga Environment and Natural Resources Office, Office of Civil Defense Provincial Coordinator Cristeta Reyes, several mediamen and Madarang.**By Estanislao Albano, Jr., ZZW
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