Featured Image Credit: Alton Parks and Recreation Department
Topics: United States, Football
Ben McCrum
Incredible footage has shown a massive sinkhole appear in the middle of a football pitch in the United States of America.
The gaping hole appeared almost instantly in the centre of a football pitch in Alton, Illinois.
CCTV cameras in the area captured the moment that collapse occurred, leaving a hole that is believed to be 100 foot wide and 30 feet deep.
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Thankfully, nobody was hurt as the pitch was empty at the time, but seats and a light pole were swallowed by the hole.
The sinkhole is believed to have been caused by an underground mine run by New Frontier Materials.
In a statement, the St-Louis based company said: “The New Frontier Materials underground mine in Alton, IL today experienced a surface subsidence and opened a sink hole at Gordon Moore City Park.
“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.
“No one was injured in the incident, which has been reported to officials at the Mine Safety Health Administration (MSHA) in accordance with applicable regulations.
“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.”
The St-Louis based company mines limestone to manufacture asphalt and other materials.
Sinkholes cost an average of at least $300million of damages per year in the USA, according to the United States Geological Survey.
However, this number is likely to be significantly higher as repair costs are not complied nationally.
The largest-ever sinkhole on record is believed to be in Shelby County, Alabama.
Nicknamed ‘The Golly Hole,’ the sinkhole appeared in 1972 and it is believed to be 325 feet long, 300 feet wide, and 120 feet deep.
Speaking about the hole, the US Geological Survey said: “"There are some very large, ancient, 'inactive' sinkholes in some areas of the U.S. that are thousands of years old.”