More than 20 Sinkholes Appear in Lianyuan

The photo taken on Sunday, January 13, 2013, shows a sinkhole in Lianyuan, a city in central China's Hunan Province. Ground subsidence has appeared in Yijia and Wenquan, two villages in Fukou town of Lianyuan, causing more than 20 sinkholes and cracks in more than 20 houses since September. The sinkholes destroyed five wells affecting over 500 mu (33 hectares) of farmland irrigation and caused many rivers to dry up, creating water shortages for nearly 4,000 residents. The reason for the sinkhole collapse is attributed to coal mining which destroyed the underground drainage system. The government has begun repair work and offering compensation to those affected. [Photo: Imagine China]

The photo taken on Sunday, January 13, 2013, shows a sinkhole in Lianyuan, a city in central China's Hunan Province. Ground subsidence has appeared in Yijia and Wenquan, two villages in Fukou town of Lianyuan, causing more than 20 sinkholes and cracks in more than 20 houses since September. The sinkholes destroyed five wells affecting over 500 mu (33 hectares) of farmland irrigation and caused many rivers to dry up, creating water shortages for nearly 4,000 residents. The reason for the sinkhole collapse is attributed to coal mining which destroyed the underground drainage system. The government has begun repair work and offering compensation to those affected. [Photo: Imagine China]

The photo taken on Sunday, January 13, 2013, shows a sinkhole in Lianyuan, a city in central China's Hunan Province. Ground subsidence has appeared in Yijia and Wenquan, two villages in Fukou town of Lianyuan, causing more than 20 sinkholes and cracks in more than 20 houses since September. The sinkholes destroyed five wells affecting over 500 mu (33 hectares) of farmland irrigation and caused many rivers to dry up, creating water shortages for nearly 4,000 residents. The reason for the sinkhole collapse is attributed to coal mining which destroyed the underground drainage system. The government has begun repair work and offering compensation to those affected. [Photo: Imagine China]