is a sinkhole a natural phenomenon
That means leaking pipes could have gone unfixed long enough to create the right conditions for the sinkhole. (Related pictures: How Humans Can Trigger Earthquakes.) In fact, Bonis thinks calling the Guatemala City chasm a sinkhole is a misnomerâa true sinkhole is an entirely natural phenomenon. There is no scientific term for what happened in Guatemala, he said, adding that he recommends the pit be dubbed a piping feature.