Sinkholes are among the most unsettling natural hazards because they offer no drama beforehand. They require the right rock, the right water chemistry, the right underground space and just enough time. The entire state sits on limestone bedrock, a rock type that dissolves slowly when exposed to weakly acidic groundwater. China’s sinkholes have become landscapesSinkhole in Guangxi, ChinaIn southern China, sinkholes operate on an entirely different scale. Irish limestone is relatively shallow, limiting the size of underground cavities that can develop.

Source: Irish Examiner January 30, 2026 11:19 UTC