Subsidence at the "Trébol" of Quito, Ecuador: an indicator for future disasters?
A sinkhole of great proportions was produced in one of the most trafficked zones of Quito. Constructed in the late sixties, this area is of high importance in solving the traffic jams of the capital city. The sinkhole called "El Trebol" started to be generated in the form of a crater,...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2015-11-01
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| Series: | Proceedings of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences |
| Online Access: | https://www.proc-iahs.net/372/151/2015/piahs-372-151-2015.pdf |
| Summary: | A sinkhole of great proportions was produced in one of the most trafficked
zones of Quito. Constructed in the late sixties, this area is of high
importance in solving the traffic jams of the capital city. The sinkhole
called "El Trebol" started to be generated in the form of a crater,
reached finally dimensions of approximately 120 m in diameter and some
40 m of depth, where at its base the river Machangara appeared. The
generation of this sinkhole paralyzed the traffic of the south-central part
of the city for the following weeks and therefore the state of emergency was
declared. Soon the cause of the sinkhole was encountered being the result of
the lack of monitoring of the older subterranean sewer system where for a
length of some 20 m the concrete tunnel that canalized the flow of the
river collapsed generating the disaster. The collapse of this tunnel
resulted from the presence of a high amount of trash floating through the
tunnel and scratching its top part until the concrete was worn away leaving
behind the sinkhole and the fear of recurrence in populated areas. The
financial aspects of direct and indirect damage are emphasized. |
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| ISSN: | 2199-8981 2199-899X |