This is a strange moment when the ground turned into liquid, swallowing an excavator and forcing the driver to jump out to escape.
According to Newsflare, the images captured show the ground, trees, and an excavator submerged in mud in Central Mamuju Regency, West Sulawesi, Indonesia, on November 2.
Officials stated that the incident began during road rehabilitation work for a palm oil company on Jalan Desa Saloadak in the Tobadak district.
The excavator was engulfed while performing road rehabilitation.
Rezky Ilhamsyah, coordinator of the Central Mamuju BPBD Data and Information Center, added: “The road in Saloadak village collapsed due to liquefaction. This caused a heavy piece of equipment to be swept away.
The excavator was severely damaged after being buried. Fortunately, the operator survived the disaster.”
Rezky further stated that approximately 200 meters of the village were affected, and traffic from both directions is currently impassable.
No injuries have been reported following the incident. Police were present at the scene to monitor the situation and secure the area.
Liquefaction is a geological phenomenon that occurs when saturated soil loses its strength and stiffness due to applied pressure, such as during earthquakes or other ground-shaking events.
This phenomenon often occurs in loose, water-saturated soils, particularly in sandy or muddy materials.
In 2018, soil liquefaction was believed to be a cause of building collapses in Indonesia following a powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake.
