A startling incident occurred Wednesday morning when a huge sinkhole opened up under a soccer field at Gordon F. Moore Park in Alton, Illinois. Officials say the hole is about 100 feet wide and as much as 30 feet deep, caused by a collapse at an underground mine nearby operated by Bluff City Minerals, a subsidiary of New Frontier Materials. The event shocked residents of the area and raised further concerns as to the safety of that park.

Just about 9:00 a.m., a dramatic collapse created a gray dust mushroom above the green turf, which caved in and swallowed a stadium light pole. Surveillance footage from the City of Alton captured the moment the sinkhole emerged—not a gradual fall, as seen so visually, but an instant violent nature of the sudden event. Drone footage afterward showed just how bad the damage was—a gaping crater in the middle of a soccer field.

It was like a movie, says Michael Hayes, the director of the Alton Parks and Recreation Department. “The mines have been here and in this area for decades and decades,” Hayes told KMOV, a local media 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 incident was immediately reported to the Mine Safety and Health Administration, who sent experts to assess the damage and probe the cause of the collapse. The area has been secured and sealed off to all while inspectors and experts are scouring the mine to examine what went wrong and to effect necessary repairs.

Gordon F. Moore Park is a 704-acre recreational facility about 20 miles from St. Louis, Missouri, boasting 19 soccer-and-football fields. It often hosts kids’ sports games and other community activities. Authorities have been obligated to close the park temporarily due to the sudden occurrence of the sinkhole, inconveniencing previously scheduled activities and sparking safety concerns.

Brian Hoener, athletic director at Marquette Catholic High School, said he feels very fortunate nobody was injured since their summer camp took place a week ago in the park. “This could have been much worse,” Hoener told the Alton Telegraph. “We’re very fortunate no one was on the field when the collapse happened.”

Alton Mayor David Goins repeated that sentiment during a later City Council meeting. “It’s unfortunate, but the blessing is that no one was injured. No one was on the ground when the collapse happened,” Goins said. “We’re very, very fortunate because as bad as this is, it could’ve been worse because there could’ve been injury or loss of life.”

New Frontier Materials released a statement, owning and operating the mine through its subsidiary Bluff City Minerals. “The affected area has been secured, and this section of the mine will not be accessed for the indefinite future as inspectors and specialists investigate the mine and perform any needed repairs,” it said. “We hold the twin values of safety and community at the forefront of our operations. We will work with the city to quickly and safely remediate this issue to ensure as little disruption to community life as possible.”

An independent geologist will survey the site to establish full extent of damage and surrounding stability. The investigation shall also encompass an inquiry into the general operation of the mine and the risk assessment for nearby structures and public spaces.

While mines in the Alton area have been going on for several decades, there have been few, if any, issues of this magnitude. The relatively sudden development of the sinkhole begged questions about the long-term stability of underground mining operations and if collapses such as this could become a common occurrence in the future.

The investigation would be led by the Mine Safety and Health Administration to ensure, to the letter, that each safety protocol had been complied with. It involves conducting a thorough review of the mine’s safety records, putting in any necessary changes, and ensuring that the incident is not duplicated at all events.

The local community has reacted with shock and concern to the incident. Citizens who have been frequenting Gordon F. Moore Park for recreational activities are pretty nervous about the safety of the park and when it can be repaired. Social media is abuzz with discussion regarding the sinkhole. Many were relieved that there were no reports of injuries.

City officials have pledged to keep the public informed throughout the investigation and repair process. Officials will issue regular updates in hopes of being as transparent as possible to help quell other concerns residents may have about the safety of the park and surrounding areas.

Additional safety measures to monitor the stability of the earth above and around the mine will likely be put in place by the City of Alton and New Frontier Materials due to the incident. More frequent monitoring or inspections, increased surveillance, and installation of an early warning system for possible land subsidence could be required.

It also serves as a reminder of the potential dangers involved in underground mining and the adherence to strict requirements concerning safety. As plans progress, the city and the mining company shall have to work together and fully cooperate to ensure that the park can be reopened safely and for such incidents to be avoided in the future.

A sudden, massive sinkhole in Alton, Illinois’ Gordon F. Moore Park has drawn attention to the perils of underground mining operations. Though the incident ravaged the park, fortunately, no one was hurt. While the investigation is ongoing, the focus will be on making sure that the community is safe and it doesn’t happen again in the future. This will require cooperation between the chiefs of the city, the Mining Company, and safety experts to find their way through the immediate challenges and reopen the park to the public.