Ex-MGB geologist warns of sinkhole collapse in northern Cebu amid rains

Former Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) chief geologist Liza Socorro Manzano has warned residents in northern Cebu to remain vigilant as heavy rains and flooding could trigger the collapse of sinkholes already destabilized by last month's 6.9-magnitude earthquake.

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"Amping Northern Cebu. Stay away from sinkholes. Intense rain, surface and subsurface flooding can initiate collapse of the already unstable sinkholes," Manzano said, following the weather bureau's advisory on Tropical Storm Ramil over the weekend.

Although Ramil's direct effects were concentrated in Luzon, localized thunderstorms continued to affect Cebu and the rest of Central Visayas.

A two-day weather forecast for Cebu indicated cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms today, October 21, with a 60 percent chance of rain. Winds are expected to be light to moderate from the northeast, while coastal waters will range from slight to moderate.