The city of Buriticupu, in Brazil’s northeastern Amazon, is facing a worsening crisis as massive sinkholes continue to expand, forcing authorities to declare a state of emergency. More than 1,200 residents are at risk of losing their homes.
Buriticupu, located in Maranhão state, has been battling soil erosion for decades. However, in recent weeks, the sinkholes—some several meters deep—have grown at an alarming rate, threatening entire neighbourhoods. The municipal government issued an emergency decree earlier this month, warning that the ground is collapsing "substantially closer to residences." Several buildings have already been destroyed.
The problem, known in Brazil as voçoroca—a term of indigenous origin meaning "to tear the earth"—has been exacerbated by heavy rainfall, deforestation, and poor urban planning. The region’s sandy soil is particularly vulnerable to erosion.
Geographer Marcelino Farias from the Federal University of Maranhão warns that the situation is worsening due to the current rainy season. Residents fear further collapses, with many unsure whether the ground beneath them is stable.
“There’s this danger right in front of us, and nobody knows where this hole has been opening up underneath,” said 65-year-old resident Antonia dos Anjos, who has lived in Buriticupu for 22 years.
Lucas Conceição, the city’s public works secretary, admitted that local authorities lack the resources to handle the crisis. “These problems range from the erosion processes to the removal of people who are in the risk area,” he said.
With the sinkholes continuing to grow, residents remain on edge, hoping for urgent intervention before more homes vanish into the abyss.
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