In front of a dangerous situation there are residents in the Buriko in the state of Maranao Brazil, where due to the erosion of the land the Earth opens in two, literally swallowing houses.

Several buildings, according to a Guardian report have already been destroyed and about 1,200 people from a population of 55,000 are in danger of losing their homes in an abyss, which is constantly expanding.

The rains slowly erode the soils that are vulnerable because of their sandy nature, as well as a combination of malnourished construction and deforestation.

“During the last few months, the dimensions have expanded exponentially, effectively approaching homes,” said an extraordinary decree issued by the city’s government earlier this month on the sinks.

The phenomenon is a escalation of a problem that Buriticupu residents have been watching over the last 30 years, as rains are slowly eroding the territories that are vulnerable to their sandy nature, as well as a combination of malnourished construction and deforestation.

The large corrosion of the soil are known in Brazil as “Voçoroca”, a word of indigenous origin meaning “tear the earth” and is equivalent to the sinks.

The problem is exacerbated in times of heavy rainfall, says Marcelino Farias, geographer and professor at Maranhao Federal University.

Antonia Dos Anjos, who has been living in Buriticupu for 22 years, is afraid that other sinks will soon appear. “There is this danger right in front of us and no one knows where this hole has opened underneath,” the 65 -year -old said.

Buriticupu’s public works secretary and engineer, Lucas Conceiçao, said the municipality clearly has no ability to find solutions to the complex state of sinks.

“These problems range from erosion processes to the removal of people in the danger area,” he said.