Residents in West Sumatra, Indonesia have been urged to stop collecting and drinking water from a newly formed sinkhole after authorities found it was contaminated with E. coli, a bacteria linked to serious gastrointestinal illness.The incident unfolded in Limapuluh Kota Regency, where a large ground collapse drew crowds of locals who believed the water pooling inside the sinkhole had medicinal properties. Videos and posts showing people lining up with bottles quickly spread online, turning the site into an unlikely “healing water” destination.That belief, officials say, is not just unproven. It could be dangerous.

Authorities warn water is unsafe

West Sumatra’s Deputy Governor Vasko Ruseimy publicly cautioned residents not to consume the water after tests showed it contained Escherichia coli (E. coli). Reports citing early findings from the Geological Agency and local health checks said the water did not meet safe drinking standards, and officials warned against using it for “health” or “treatment” claims.E. coli contamination is often considered a red-flag indicator because it can suggest the presence of harmful pathogens introduced through surface runoff, soil contamination, or waste intrusion.

Where the sinkhole appeared

The sinkhole reportedly opened in a rice field area in Jorong Tepi, Nagari Situjuah Batua, part of Limapuluh Kota Regency. Indonesian authorities and geology experts began assessing the site soon after it was reported, as concern grew about whether the collapse could expand.A geology expert from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) said the phenomenon was shaped by local geological conditions and was likely triggered by heavy rainfall, linking it to wider hydrometeorological impacts felt across parts of Sumatra.

Why sinkholes happen in the first place

Sinkholes form when the ground surface collapses into an underground gap. In many cases, that gap grows silently over time, then fails suddenly.Experts say several factors can cause this:1) Hidden erosion beneath the surfaceWater moving underground can gradually carry away soil particles in a process sometimes described as “piping erosion”, eventually creating a hollow space large enough for the ground above to give way.2) Intense rainfall and flooding pressureHeavy rain can destabilise soil layers, accelerate erosion, and raise groundwater pressure. Even if the ground has been weakening for months or years, extreme rainfall can be the final trigger.3) Landscape vulnerabilitySome areas are naturally more prone to collapses depending on soil composition, underground drainage patterns, and whether the land has been altered by farming, construction, or shifting water channels.In practical terms, sinkholes are not just dramatic “holes in the ground”. They are often a sign that the underground structure has changed, and that nearby land may still be unstable.

Why drinking sinkhole water can be risky even if it looks clear

One reason the West Sumatra case drew alarm is how quickly “clean-looking” water was assumed to be safe.But sinkholes can act like natural funnels, pulling in contaminants from surrounding areas, including:

Even if the water appears clear, it may still carry harmful organisms. That’s why officials moved quickly to warn residents once E. coli was detected.

A public health warning wrapped inside a viral moment

The sinkhole water episode has become a reminder of how fast health misinformation can spread when fear, curiosity, and hope collide. For some residents, the attraction was not spectacle but belief: that unusual natural phenomena can offer cures.Authorities, however, have taken a firm line. Their message is simple: do not drink it.As officials monitor the site for further ground movement, the bigger risk may no longer be the sinkhole itself, but what happens when viral belief outruns basic water safety.