Surveillance video captured the moment Wednesday morning when a massive sinkhole opened up on a turf soccer field in Alton, Ill., swallowing a light pole in the process.
According to The Telegraph, the sinkhole is about 100 feet wide, by 100 feet deep. The limestone quarry, run by Bluff City Minerals, which has been mining under that section of Alton for many years, is located adjacent to the park's west side.
The collapse happened at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday between two partitioned turf fields in Alton Park, and the city has since cordoned off the area.
Alton Parks and Recreation director Michael Haynes said nobody was injured in the collapse and no miners were hurt.
"No one was on the field at the time and no one was hurt, and that's the most important thing," said Alton mayor David Goins.
New Frontier Materials spokesman Matt Barkett released the following statement on behalf of Bluff City Minerals:
"The New Frontier Materials underground mine in Alton, IL today experienced a surface subsidence and opened a sink hole at Gordon Moore City Park," the statement said. "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. No one was injured in the incident, which has been reported to officials at the Mine Safety Health Administration (MSHA) in accordance with applicable regulations. Safety is our top priority. 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.
