When a giant, fire-spewing sinkhole appeared on a HCMC street last week, city authorities rushed to find the cause. After a week of investigation, things are no clearer as scientists and firefighters have each put forth their own explanations.
The hole appeared on October 28 and is 20 centimeters in diameter and 30 centimeters in depth, according to officials.
Residents reported that smoke emanated from the hole all day and sometimes produced a meter-high bluish flame. They also said that they had felt a small explosion the day after it appeared.
The HCMC Department of Science and Technology suggested that the explosion was likely a result of methane gas buildup since the area used to be a swamp. Once sparked by a heat source, the gas is easily combustible.
The Police Department’s Firefighting Division had another explanation, however. Not detecting and flammable gas, but finding a system of burned and broken electrical wires, the Departnemnt implied that it was an electrical accident.
Whatever the actual cause, we’re gonna stick with the much cooler (hotter?) volcano theory.
Here's a video of the street:
