La. Sinkhole Quaking, 'Burping' Right Now

Helicorder showing earthquake activity at Louisiana’s giant sinkhole Friday morning. Image credit: CERI/ University of Memphis

Earthquake acitivity at Louisiana’s 24-acre sinkhole increased early Friday morning and a burp is happening now in the center of the chemical monster hole, according to Assumption Parish officials.

“There is lots of activity on the sinkhole this morning,” Assumption Parish officials just reported Firday. “Dr Horton reports that this increase in activity started about 5:00 a.m. (this morning).”

Thius earthquake activity is man-made by the oil and gas-related industry’s extracting and injecting processes involved in the 1-mile by 3-mile Napoleonville Salt Dome.

Thousands of such man-made quakes have occurred in the area since this disaster began over a year ago in the bayou country of south Louisiana. Few, however, have been as significant as Friday’s, shown in the chart above.

“There is abundant surface water movement,” the officials added in their statement Friday morning.

Officials point to a video posted (from Pad 3) on its YouTube  site,  http://www.youtube.com/user/assumptionla to see the water movement.

“Also, currently, a burp event is occurring in the center of the sink hole,” the officials report.

The report comes as DOW Chemical Company has been secretly taking emergency measures due to a possible failure of one of its caverns inside the 1-mile by 3-mile Napoleonville Salt Dome.

The area has been under a declared state of emergency and mandatory evacuation, but many residents are still there.