Terrifying moment massive sinkhole swallows soccer pitch in Illinois
A massive 30m-wide sinkhole has opened up in a US park, swallowing a light pole in the middle of sporting fields and leaving a gaping abyss.
The terrifying moment was caught on a nearby surveillance camera , showing an area between soccer and football fields open up around a light pole which is sent tumbling down as plumes of smoke and dust are released.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Giant sinkhole opens up at US park.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.The hole, which opened about 9.20am local time in Gordon Moore Park in the city of Alton, Illinois, was approximately 30m wide and 9m deep, Alton Parks and Recreation director Michael Haynes told NBC News.
Haynes said the sinkhole opened due to “a mine collapse deep underground,” adding: “New Frontier Materials is responsible.”
No one was on the field at the time and no one was hurt.
“It looks like something out of a movie, right? It looks like a bomb went off,” Haynes told NBC affiliate KSDK.
New Frontier Materials, which owns an underground mine, told KSDK: “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 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.”
NBC News contacted New Frontier Materials for further comment.
Gordon Moore Park is temporarily closed “while the sinkhole investigation is being completed,” Alton Parks and Recreation said.
Sinkholes occur naturally when groundwater circulates underground and dissolves the rock beneath the surface, according to the United States Geological Survey.
However, they can also occur as a result of mining, leaky utility lines or from the decay of buried material, according to Penn State Extension, which focuses on agronomy and horticulture education.
