ALTON, Ill. — A large sinkhole has opened up in the center of a soccer complex located in southern Illinois, swallowing a light pole and a section of the field. The complex was built over an active limestone mine. Thankfully, no injuries were reported when the sinkhole appeared on Wednesday morning.
“No one was on the field at the time and no one was hurt, and that’s the most important thing,” Alton Mayor David Goins told
Security footage captured the sudden formation of the hole, showing a light pole and benches disappearing into the ground, along with artificial turf at the city’s Gordon Moore Park.
The hole is estimated to be at least 100 feet (30.5 meters) wide and up to 50 feet (15.2 meters) deep, said Michael Haynes, the city’s parks and recreation director.
“It was surreal. Kind of like a movie where the ground just falls out from underneath you,” Haynes told
The park and roads surrounding it are now closed indefinitely.
New Frontier Materials Bluff City attributed the sinkhole to “surface subsidence” at its underground mine in the city. The mine is located about 25 miles (40 kilometers) north of St. Louis along the Mississippi River.
The collapse was reported to the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration, as required, company spokesman Matt Barkett said. He told The Associated Press the limestone mine is located about 170 feet (52 meters) below ground and it’s his understanding that it runs under the city park where the sinkhole appeared.
“The impacted area has been secured and will remain off limits for the foreseeable future while inspectors and experts examine the mine and conduct repairs,” Barkett said in a statement. “We will work with the city to remediate this issue as quickly and safely as possible to ensure minimal impact on the community.”
Haynes said he doesn’t know how the sinkhole will be fixed but that engineers and geologists will most likely be involved in determining the stability of the ground and surrounding areas.