Residents near new sinkhole in Bohol advised to evacuate

Residents in a village in Tagbilaran City in Bohol were advised to evacuate the area due to a new sinkhole that formed after the  magnitude-7.2 quake last Oct. 15.

State-run Philippine Information Agency said the Mines and Geosciences Bureau warned the threat of a landslide is high due to the new sinkhole.

"Residents in Purok 7, Barangay Poblacion 1, Tagbilaran City are advised to leave/evacuate area. Landslide high due to new sinkhole, MGB says," the PIA's Bohol unit said.

It added the sinkhole in Poblacion 1 is one of 50 sinkholes in Tagbilaran City that emerged after the Oct. 15 quake.

Quoting the MGB, the PIA said the landslide susceptibility rating of Purok 7 in Barangay Poblacion 1 is "very high due to newly-formed sinkhole."

Bohol is the area hit hardest by the deadly quake, accounting for most of the fatalities.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council had said at least 222 had been killed in the wake of the Oct. 15 quake. — LBG, GMA News