Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register Aug 7 (Reuters) – A sinkhole in Chile doubled in size, growing enough to submerge France’s Arc de Triomphe and prompting officials to order a halt to work at a nearby copper mine. The sinkhole, which surfaced on July 30, now stretches 50 meters (160 ft) and descends 200 meters (656 ft). Seattle’s Space Needle would also fit comfortably in the black hole, as would six Christ the Redeemer statues from Brazil stacked side by side, giant arms outstretched. The National Geology and Mines Service said late Saturday it was still investigating the hole near the Alcaparrosa mine operated by Canadian company Lundin Mining ( LUN.TO ), about 665 kilometers (413 miles) north of Santiago. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register As well as ordering all work to stop, the geological and mining agency said it was launching a “sanctions process”. The agency did not elaborate on what that action would entail. Lundin did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The company last week said the hole did not affect workers or community members and that it was working to determine the cause. read more Lundin owns 80% of the property and the rest is owned by Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation. Originally, the hole near the town of Tierra Amarilla was about 25 meters (82 ft) in diameter, with visible water at the bottom. read more The geology and mining agency said it has installed water extraction pumps at the mine and will in the coming days investigate the mine’s underground chambers for possible overmining. Local officials have expressed concern that the Alcaparrosa mine could have flooded underground, destabilizing the surrounding area. It would be “something completely unusual,” Tierra Amarilla Mayor Cristobal Zuniga told local media. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register Report by Marion Giraldo. Daina Beth Solomon writes. Editor: Lisa Shumaker Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.


title: “Chile S Sinkhole Grows Big Enough To Swallow France S Arc De Triomphe " ShowToc: true date: “2022-10-29” author: “Laura Devilla”


The sinkhole, which surfaced on July 30, now spans 160 feet and descends 656 feet. Seattle’s Space Needle would also fit comfortably in the black hole, as would six Christ the Redeemer statues from Brazil stacked side by side, giant arms outstretched. The National Geology and Mines Service said late Saturday it was still investigating the hole near the Alcaparrosa mine operated by Canadian company Lundin Mining LUN.TO, about 413 miles north of Santiago. As well as ordering all work to stop, the geological and mining agency said it was launching a “sanctions process”. The agency did not elaborate on what that action would entail. Lundin did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The company last week said the hole did not affect workers or community members and that it was working to determine the cause. A sinkhole in Chile grew in size – big enough to submerge France’s Arc de Triomphe. REUTERS/Johan Godoy Lundin owns 80% of the property and the rest is owned by Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation. Originally, the hole near the town of Tierra Amarilla was about 82 feet in diameter, with visible water at the bottom. The geology and mining agency said it has installed water extraction pumps at the mine and will in the coming days investigate the mine’s underground chambers for possible overmining. Local officials have expressed concern that the Alcaparrosa mine could have flooded underground, destabilizing the surrounding area. It would be “something completely unusual,” Tierra Amarilla Mayor Cristobal Zuniga told local media.