US: 100-foot-wide sinkhole swallows Illinois soccer field after mine collapse. Viral video

A 100-foot-wide sinkhole appeared on a part of a soccer field in the US’s Illinois after an underground mine collapsed. A video capturing the moment went viral on social media.

The giant sinkhole engulfed the middle of the turf, including bleachers and a light pole, at Gordon Moore Park in Alton. No injuries were reported as the field was empty when the incident occurred on Wednesday, according to local media reports.

Alton Parks and Recreation Department Director Michael Haynes said the sinkhole is estimated to be at least 100-foot-wide and up to 50-foot-deep. “I can’t imagine if there were a bunch of people out here. We’re fortunate,” he said.

The mine that collapsed was operational and owned by New Frontier Materials. All activities at the park were cancelled after the incident with police cordoning off the area.

Haynes said the mine was operational in the area for decades and an investigation into the incident had begun.

Reacting to the sinkhole that he saw, Haynes said, “It looks like something out of a movie, right? It looks like a bomb went off.”

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

“It was surreal, kind of like a movie, where the ground just falls out from underneath you,” Haynes further said.

Experts and police personnel were examining the mine and will conduct repairs on the soccer field soon.

“Hopefully, we can find a remedy and get plans together to move forward before we get into our busy season out here again,” Haynes said.

A resident of Alton, Richard Baird, said the giant sinkhole in the middle of the field was “startling”.

“A very sad occasion for the community because of the newness of this facility and No. 1, and No. 2. All the youth participate here, and it puts all that on hold,” Baird said.