The adverse impact of the mining industry is increasingly affecting Polish citizens, Euronews reports.
The closed mine in Hutka has caused karst sinkholes as a side effect of mining operations. Such depressions have emerged across areas devoid of trees. Many locations in Poland are at risk of both large and small karst sinkhole formation, with around 270 hectares of land in Tchebinia being under threat.
Tomasz Zolondz, Deputy Mayor of Tchebinia, stated,
"Since last year, we've witnessed a surge in these events, visibly concerning residents, as these areas are utilized daily, including gardens, cemeteries, sports facilities, and tennis courts. We've even had to close our local cultural center. We are exploring the territory around schools and directly under people's homes, as these sinkholes are forming in close proximity."
Locals are alarmed that even activities like mushroom picking have become dangerous, as more forests are marked "no entry" due to the risk of karst sinkhole formation, similar to the situation in Tchebinia. Joanna, a resident of Olkusz, expressed,
"We would like more information on this matter to feel safer. These sinkholes are becoming more frequent, so being aware of all this information would be beneficial."
Residents also complain about insufficient government assistance and a lack of real solutions. Although the sinkholes are swiftly filled when they appear, this is not a long-term fix, as the threat remains.
Sylwia Jaroslawska-Sobor, Press Secretary of the Central Mining Institute in Katowice, highlighted,
"The threat of karst sinkholes is constantly monitored, like at the Sirsza mine in Tchebinia, where the threat is higher and these sinkholes unfortunately appear frequently. However, they can also emerge in areas where they haven't been seen before. We've had such cases. In the Upper Silesian coal basin, the threat isn't very high, but there are areas where shallow mining occurred, and mining operations were situated just below the surface, so the threat might be greater there."
Magdalena Chodownik, Euronews:
"The issue of karst sinkholes often goes unnoticed due to its regional nature, yet it deeply concerns many Polish citizens. In towns like Tchebinia, even partial evacuations of the population might be necessary."
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