ALTON, Ill. (KMOX) - A massive sinkhole swallowed a light pole in an Alton city park Wednesday afternoon.
The 50-foot deep hole opened between the soccer and football fields at Gordon F. Moore Park in Alton, Illinois.
"I think it started around 6:30 a.m. this morning at the surface, it gave entirely way around 8:30 a.m.," said Michael Haines with the Alton Parks and Recreation Department. The same official said the hole was caused by a limestone mine collapsing deep underground.
New Frontier Materials, a mining company, was able to communicate with someone at the surface to make sure the field was clear at the time of the collapse. There have been no reported injuries.
The company also said the sinkhole resulted from “surface subsidence” at its underground mine in the city, located about 25 miles (40 kilometers) north of St. Louis along the Mississippi River.
"Luckily, we didn't have anything going on at that time of the day out here at the soccer fields either," said Haines.
Haines says there are no concerns about any other holes opening up at the soccer fields.
Alton Mayor David Goins said federal officials have not indicated how long their investigation of the sinkhole will last. The area is gated off until the grounds are deemed safe for public use again.
Goins said the owners of the limestone mine, on which the soccer field was built, are cooperating in the investigation.