The “very thin layer of earth” in the sinkhole’s formation location seems to have been degrading “for a long time,” according to Limani.
To avoid such mishaps, authorities were charting potential depressions nearby. “People down here should be not afraid to walk around in their yards,” Limani said.
According to the state’s Department of Environmental Protection, the mine ceased operations in 1952. According to a department official, the coal seam in this region is around 20 feet deep.
The government will examine the location “to determine if this issue is the result of historic mine subsidence,” the spokeswoman said, once the area has been cleared. Jason Volack of ABC News contributed to this story.
