Current:Home > MarketsVideo shows giant sinkhole at Illinois soccer field following mine collapse: Watch -TradeCircle
Video shows giant sinkhole at Illinois soccer field following mine collapse: Watch
View
Date:2025-04-15 18:42:08
A video shows a giant sinkhole in the center of a soccer field in Illinois, 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 tardrey@gannett.com.
veryGood! (117)
Related
- Spooky or not? Some Choa Chu Kang residents say community garden resembles cemetery
- Senate leaders in Rhode Island hope 25-bill package will make health care more affordable
- Alyssa Naeher makes 3 saves and scores in penalty shootout to lift USWNT over Canada
- Say cheese! Hidden Valley Ranch, Cheez-It join forces to create Cheezy Ranch
- Travis Hunter, the 2
- Rep. Dean Phillips, Minnesota Democrat, says he is suspending presidential campaign
- Shake Shack giving away free sandwiches Monday based on length of Oscars telecast: What to know
- More Black women say abortion is their top issue in the 2024 election, a survey finds
- Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing
- Is Walmart getting rid of self-checkout? No, but it's 'testing' how, when to use DIY process
Ranking
- Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
- Can AI help me pack? Tips for using ChatGPT, other chatbots for daily tasks
- Social media ban for minors less restrictive in Florida lawmakers’ second attempt
- Jim Parsons and Mayim Bialik Are Reprising Big Bang Theory Roles
- Arkansas State Police probe death of woman found after officer
- LNG Exports from Mexico in Limbo While Pipeline Project Plows Ahead
- Top remaining MLB free agents: Blake Snell leads the 13 best players still available
- TikToker Remi Bader Just Perfectly Captured the Pain of Heartbreak
Recommendation
John Galliano out at Maison Margiela, capping year of fashion designer musical chairs
Eric Church gives thousands of fans a literal piece of his Nashville bar
U.N. says reasonable grounds to believe Hamas carried out sexual attacks on Oct. 7, and likely still is
Noah Lyles eyes Olympic sprint quadruple in Paris: 'I want to do all that'
Selena Gomez engaged to Benny Blanco after 1 year together: 'Forever begins now'
Is Walmart getting rid of self-checkout? No, but it's 'testing' how, when to use DIY process
Gisele Bündchen Breaks Down in Tears Over Tom Brady Split
Chicago’s top cop says police are getting training to manage protests during the DNC