Sinkhole swallows part of Illinois soccer field
- The collapse caused a hole about 100 feet wide and 100 feet deep
- Officials say no one was hurt in the incident
- City official: 'We chose to close off the whole park for the time being'
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(NewsNation) — Part of an Illinois soccer field built over a mine was swallowed up by a sinkhole Wednesday.
The incident took place around 9:15 a.m. at Gordon Moore Park in Alton, Illinois, a small town on the eastern banks of the Mississippi. Officials say no one was injured.
A surveillance video from Alton Parks and Recreation showed the sinkhole forming near the sidelines and quickly swallowing up one of the field’s light towers. The artificial turf can be seen sinking like a hollow blanket, and just when the light tower is no longer visible, an explosion of dust and debris is released into the air from the ground.
According to a local publication, the collapsed area was above a mine with a 40-to-50-foot thick ceiling. The collapse reportedly caused a hole at least 100 feet in diameter and 100 feet deep, apparently “approaching the limestone mine of Bluff City Minerals.”
Bluff City Minerals reportedly declined to comment on the incident.
“We chose to close off the whole park for the time being,” Alton Parks and Recreation Director Michael Haynes said, “until we can get official notification that everything, aside from the soccer fields area, is safe.”
“We’re just thankful no one was injured,” Marquette Catholic High School athletic director Brian Hoener said. “No student-athletes were there, and no miners were injured. That’s the most important thing.”
