Mud spontaneously erupted into a small hill in Phu Yen, why?

Professional agencies come to check the phenomenon of spontaneous mud spray - Photo: LE DUYEN

According to the report, the Central Region Water Resources Planning and Investigation Federation was assigned by the National Center for Water Resources Planning and Investigation to survey and collect relevant information on the mudflow phenomenon in order to make assessments based on facts and scientific evidence.

Assessment of the mudflow

According to the report of the Central Region Water Resources Planning and Investigation Federation, the location of the self-spraying mud is located at plot 627, map sheet number 11 of Mr. Nguyen Van Loi (in Tan Vinh village, Xuan Son Nam commune).

The terrain of the surrounding area around the mud injection site is of the inter-mountain valley type, quite flat, surrounded on almost all four sides by low and medium hills.

Overview of the entire phenomenon of mud spontaneously flowing out at the location at the top of the gentle hill at a slow rate (estimated at about 5m³/day).

When sufficient, it flows down the foot in several directions, depending on the relative height difference between locations.

The mud is pale yellow in color, and when dry has a grayish-white tint. The composition of the mud includes powder, clay in a plastic state, and many sharp white quartz fragments.

From the location of the spontaneous mud eruption, there are a number of cracks on the ground radiating in all directions, the largest crack is about 10m long.

The characteristics and properties of mud have no unpleasant odor, the temperature when it overflows to the ground is 29 degrees Celsius.

Why is there a mudflow?

Mud eruption in Tan Vinh village - Photo: MINH CHIEN

From the survey results and information collection from the people, the Central Region Water Resources Planning and Investigation Federation determined that the location of the self-eruption mud is located at the intersection point in the direction of extension of the fault systems developing in the Northwest - Southeast direction and the meridian direction.

The composition of the mud includes quartz gravel fragments which are predicted to be weathered products of rocks, intruded in an area unconformably overlain by Quaternary sediments.

This may lead to the initial conclusion that mud flows due to tectonic activities along the fault extending from high terrains on mountainous areas up and down, when conditions are favorable for exposure, specifically where the cover above the fault is thin and loses cohesion when the surface soil dries out.

A similar spontaneous mud eruption, at this exact location, was recorded nearly 50 years ago, lasting about 10 days and then stopping, possibly because the mud that was ejected gradually solidified and filled the system of cracks connected to the fault, blocking the paths for the mud to flow out of the ground.

The result of this spontaneous eruption of mud was the formation of the present small hill, with the peak at the eruption site being several meters higher than the surrounding area, completely natural, not the result of any human leveling or other natural phenomenon.

No recorded harm to the environment and human health

According to the report, the quality of the sludge is relatively good, the temperature is normal, and there have been no recorded risks of harm to human health or environmental pollution.

However, this will be specifically evaluated after the results of analyzing some important components and comparing with the corresponding components in mineral mud currently used for bathing in the area, especially in Khanh Hoa province.

Basically, this phenomenon of spontaneous mud eruption has not shown any signs of causing any harm to the environment and people's lives. However, these are only initial assessments, based on the results of a quick survey. Accurate conclusions need to be based on other experiments and in-depth surveys.

The Central Region Water Resources Planning and Investigation Federation recommends that local authorities and relevant agencies continue to closely monitor the developments of this phenomenon in the coming time to have appropriate responses.

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MINH CHIEN

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/bun-tu-phun-trao-thanh-qua-doi-nho-o-phu-yen-vi-sao-20250411170401355.htm