Esthen Exchange|Video shows giant sinkhole at Illinois soccer field following mine collapse: Watch

2025-05-03 02:53:25source:Kacper Sobieskicategory:Finance

A video shows a giant sinkhole in the center of a soccer field in Illinois,Esthen Exchange leaving the community in shock.

It happened Wednesday morning around 9:00 a.m. at Gordon F. Moore Park, located in Alton, about 20 miles from St. Louis, Missouri. The 704-acre property has 19 soccer and football fields, and youth sports games are held there.

"This could have been much worse," Marquette Catholic High School athletic director Brian Hoener said during an interview with the Alton Telegraph, noting that their summer camp was there around the same time a week before.

Officials say the hole is approximately 30 feet deep and 100 feet wide, according to ABC 7 Chicago. It was reportedly caused by a collapsed underground mine. There have been no reports of injuries.

In the video, the green turf randomly caves in, and a stadium light pole is sucked into the ground. The collapse is followed by a mushroom cloud of gray smoke.

Sinkholes:Sinkhole in Las Cruces, NM swallowed two cars, forced residents to leave their homes

Park reportedly closed amid investigation

Michael Hayes, director of Alton Parks and Recreation Department, called the sinkhole "surreal," adding that it's "like a movie, KMOV reported.

“The mines have been here and in this area for decades and decades,” Hayes told the outlet. “It’s never been brought up before so I’m told it’s an anomaly. We’ll wait until the investigation is complete.”

The Mine Safety and Health Administration was notified about the incident. Experts are analyzing the damage.

"Gordon Moore Park is temporarily closed while the sinkhole investigation is being completed," Alton Parks and Recreation said.

New Frontier Materials, who owns the mine, acknowledged the incident in a statement to KMOV.

"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," a spokesperson said, per KSDK. "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."

USA TODAY reached out to Hayes and New Frontier Materials for comment.

Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at [email protected].

More:Finance

Recommend

Angie Murimirwa: From hiding in the bathroom to Time's most influential people list

I don't mean to humble brag, but I am on a first name basis with one of the most influential people

Missouri Supreme Court says governor had the right to dissolve inquiry board in death row case

The Missouri Supreme Court on Tuesday denied a death row inmate’s challenge to Gov. Mike Parson’s de

A tranquilized black bear takes a dive from a tree, falls into a waiting tarp

CAMP HILL, Pa. (AP) — A young black bear took a dive from a tree Tuesday, landing in a giant tarp he