NEWS · B2 Level - Part 3

Sinkholes Threaten Town of 55,000 in Brazil

An entire town in Brazil could be swallowed up by the Earth. The municipality of Buri Tipu, home to 55,000 residents,

Level: B2 · 15 sentences

Transcript

1. An entire town in Brazil could be swallowed up by the Earth.
2. The municipality of Buri Tipu, home to 55,000 residents,
3. has declared a state of calamity as sinkholes have been threatening homes.
4. This phenomenon is natural, but human activity intensifies it.
5. This intensification occurs through the construction of streets, roads, sewage galleries, and rainwater collection networks,
6. which end up intensifying a natural process.
7. Experts say they're concerned with how quickly the sinkholes are expanding.
8. So far, about 1200 homes are at risk of collapsing,
9. and people who live in them say they don't know what to do.
10. "This is the danger: no one knows where this hole is opening underneath."
11. "When it opened, the barrier formed right in front of the house at the base of the mango tree,"
12. "and there was a loud crash that shook the house."
13. "So we need to get out of danger."
14. Officials in the town say the best option is to relocate residents,
15. although there are no formal plans to do so.