The start of the San Andreas fault is hit by the ‘slow one’: Sunken sinkhole of bubbling mud is moving across Salton Sea destroying everything in its path

The bubbling geyser that has existed since 1953 now moving at speeds of up to 60 feet a day
Experts say it behaves like an ‘sunken sinkhole’ as it moves across the area near Salton sea
Union Pacific Railroad has already had to move tracks because of it after attempts to build a wall failed
A portion of Highway 111, a major roadway, may have to be closed as the geyser approaches
Local authorities have already declared the geyser an emergency and are drawing up contingency plans

It is the beginning of the San Andreas fault, where experts fear ‘The Big One’ could begin.

But a small, bubbling pool of mud that stinks of rotting eggs near the Salton Sea is causing concern.

Dubbed ‘the slow one’, experts studying the phenomenon say it is similar to a ‘moving sinkhole’ – and is speeding up, destroying everything in its path.

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Dubbed ‘the slow one’, experts studying the water, in Niland near the Salton Sea, have found it is speeding up at an alarming rate – and aren’t sure why

The moving mudpot: In the past 11 years, the geyser has moved slowly however recently the rate of movement has increased and has been encroaching on the railroad. However, was only in the last six months that it picked up enough speed that it began to pose a threat to man-made infrastructure.

Imperial County officials studying the muddy spring say it has has been increasing in speed through – first 60 feet over a few months, and then 60 feet in a single day.

This natural-occurring geyser has been in existence since 1953, but recently began moving. It is releasing water and carbon dioxide.

However, was only in the last six months that it picked up enough speed that it began to pose a threat to man-made infrastructure.

Earlier this year, local officials declared it an emergency as it approached railroad tracks.

‘It’s a slow-moving disaster,’ Alfredo Estrada, Imperial County’s fire chief and emergency services coordinator, told the LA Times.

‘In the past 11 years, the geyser has moved slowly however recently the rate of movement has increased and has been encroaching on the railroad,’ the County of Imperial said in a statement.

The County of Imperial made the first emergency declaration on June 26 as it began moving towards the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) railroad tracks, SR -111, and buried utilities in the area.

It has already forced Union Pacific Railroads to move their trains to alternate tracks…….more here

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The start of the San Andreas fault is hit by the ‘slow one’: Sunken sinkhole of bubbling mud is moving across Salton Sea destroying everything in its path