A second sinkhole has been found in an area in central Laos where a multinational mining company has been excavating in search of potassium, several residents told Radio Free Asia.
The 10-meter (32 feet) wide sinkhole found on Dec. 21 is only about 8 meters (26 feet) away from another one discovered on Dec. 3 on farmland in Khammouane province’s Thakhek district, a local official told Radio Free Asia on Tuesday.
Both holes are about 800 meters away from a residential area. A fence has been built to prevent anyone from falling into the sinkholes, which are about 20 meters (65 feet) deep, he said, requesting anonymity to speak about a government matter.
“I asked some officials to inspect and guard the area so that no animals or anyone could get closer to it,” he said. “Villagers are OK; the villages are distant from this area.”
Residents of nearby Pakpeng village told RFA earlier this month that they believed that the first hole was caused by excavation at a Chinese-owned potash mine.
The potash mine in neighboring Nong Bok district is operated by Sino-Agri International Potash Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Asia Potash International Investment (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd., which is linked to entities directed by China’s governing State Council.
Potash -– a soluble form of potassium that is used for crop fertilizer –- is exported to China, which has made acquiring more of the mineral a priority.
‘Scary things’
Two other residents of Pakpeng told RFA on Tuesday that they believe recent excavation work is the cause for the second sinkhole.
“Talking about scary things,” one resident said. “Despite the fact that it is not very close to our villages, I am still scared because it seems pretty risky.”
A local official told RFA earlier this month that the first sinkhole took place just 300 meters (1,000 feet) away from where the mining company has been drilling.
A former Sino-Agri Potash company employee told RFA on Tuesday that the excavation has been taking place at least 100 meters (330 feet) below the surface.
The company’s mining area originally covered 35 square kilometers (13.5 square miles) when it began operations in 2021, but has expanded to more than 214 square kilometers (83 square miles).
RFA was unable to reach the Department of Geology and Mines and a provincial administrative officer to ask the sinkholes.
Translated by Khamsao Civilize. Edited by Matt Reed and Malcolm Foster.