Causes and consequences of the sinkhole at El Trébol of Quito, Ecuador – implications for economic damage and risk assessment

A massive sinkhole at El Trébol, Quito's critical road interchange, exposed the severe economic and structural risks posed by neglected subterranean infrastructure. The collapse, triggered by heavy rainfall and exacerbated by decades of unmonitored trash accumulation in a concrete tunnel rerouting the Machángara River, reached 120 meters in diameter and 40 meters deep, revealing the river below. The study highlights that indirect costs—such as time loss, vehicle delays, and increased expenses—far exceeded direct reconstruction costs, underscoring the need for robust risk assessment and maintenance of aging urban infrastructure. By analyzing rainfall data, hydrogeological factors, and historical sinkhole patterns in Quito, researchers demonstrated how unchecked decay in subterranean systems can lead to catastrophic socio-natural disasters with disproportionate financial consequences.

Toulkeridis, T., Rodríguez, F., Arias Jiménez, N., Baile, D. S., Martínez, R. S., Addison, A., Carreón Freyre, D., Mato, F., & Díaz Perez, C. (2016). Causes and consequences of the sinkhole at El Trébol of Quito, Ecuador – implications for economic damage and risk assessment. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 16(9), 2031–2041. https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-16-2031-2016