Startling video footage captures the moment a massive sinkhole, spanning 100 feet in width, engulfed a soccer field in mere seconds. This chilling incident took place in Illinois, USA, where what was once a normal day at the park transformed into a scene reminiscent of a disaster film.
The rapid collapse resulted in the destruction of two pristine artificial soccer and football fields within just five seconds, leaving behind a gaping crater at Gordon F. Moore Community Park in Alton. Thankfully, the pitches were empty at the time, averting potential fatalities given the violent manner in which a floodlight was hurled into the abyss.
But what exactly is a sinkhole, and how does such a phenomenon occur? Commonly, we recognize a sinkhole as an unexpected depression in the ground, its formation seemingly random to the layperson. Essentially, a sinkhole is an area where no natural external surface drainage exists; meaning, when it rains, all the water is trapped inside the sinkhole, gradually seeping into the subsurface. The sinkhole that appeared in Alton was a perfect circle measuring 100 feet across, positioned right between the two fields.
According to the United States Geological Survey, a governmental body specializing in geology, sinkholes are predominantly found in areas known as ‘karst terrain’. These terrains contain types of rock, such as salt beds, gypsum, limestone, and other carbonate rocks, that can be naturally dissolved by groundwater. Florida, for example, largely consists of limestone and is highly susceptible to sinkholes. When rainwater percolates through the soil into these types of rock, it starts to dissolve them, creating underground cavities. The surface usually remains intact until these cavities grow too large, leading to a sudden and dramatic collapse.
Local news outlets reported that the sinkhole was triggered by an underground mine operated by New Frontier Materials.
A representative from New Frontier Materials stated, “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 foremost concern. We are cooperating with the city to address and resolve this matter swiftly and safely, aiming to mitigate any impact on the local community.”