A sinkhole measuring up to 100ft deep and wide opened up in the middle of a field of football pitches in Alton, Illinois, swallowing a light pole. The incident happened above a limestone mine, causing all activities at the sports facility to be cancelled while investigations are ongoing. Fortunately, no injuries were reported as no one was on the field at the time of the collapse. The mine, operated by New Frontier Materials, attributed the incident to surface subsidence. Local officials have secured the impacted area and closed nearby roads for safety. The community is grateful that the incident did not occur while the pitch was in use, as a soccer camp with 60 to 70 people was held there just last week. The Alton City Hall and New Frontier Materials have emphasized that safety is the top priority, and efforts are being made to remediate the issue as quickly and safely as possible. Footage shows the sudden sinking of the light pole into the opening. The Gordon Moore Park, where the sinkhole occurred, features numerous sports facilities, including tennis courts, a golf course, and multiple football fields.
Source
Photo credit news.sky.com
