Search for Woman Believed to Have Fallen into Sinkhole Transitions to Recovery

Search teams anticipate requiring an additional day of excavation to locate a woman reported missing, who is thought to have plunged into a mine following the formation of a sinkhole in Pennsylvania. Authorities, specifically police, have indicated that the operation has probably transitioned into a recovery phase. Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Stephen Limani stated, “Unless it’s a miracle, most likely this is [a] recovery [effort].” Elizabeth Pollard, aged 64, was reported missing by her relatives after she left her home on Monday night to look for her cat. Officials suspect she may have fallen into a 30-ft (9m) deep sinkhole, which is linked to a mine in Marguerite. This sinkhole is believed to have formed beneath her while she was searching for her pet. During a news conference held on Wednesday afternoon, Mr Limani noted that the oxygen levels within the mine had decreased since the initial search efforts began. He remarked, “I know we have a lot of hopes, and maybe there is still a glimmer of hope, but based off of oxygen levels being a little lower, even though we’ve pumped oxygen into the mine, it’s lower than what you would want for someone to try and sustain their life. It’s been difficult.” The two-day search for Mrs Pollard encountered obstacles on Wednesday, as rescue personnel determined that the disused mine had become excessively hazardous for individuals to conduct subterranean searches. Mr Limani explained, “Because of the fragile state of the mine, we’ve had to change what we were trying to do.” He continued, “We were trying to basically suction the removal of dirt and debris and rocks, and even using water to try and soften the debris up or even push it out of our way to [now] where we have to dig out a massive area, more than four times the size of the area that we had originally done, to try and secure the mine so we can access it to try and go in there and recover her.” Although cameras and electronic equipment, including microphones, have been deployed into the mine, searchers have yet to discover any indication of Mrs Pollard’s presence. Mr Limani mentioned that they had, however, observed what seemed to be a shoe for a second occasion amidst the dirt and mud. Earlier on Wednesday, during an interview with CBS News, which is the BBC’s US news partner, Axel Hayes, Mrs Pollard’s son, expressed experiencing a variety of emotions. Mr Hayes stated, “I’m upset that she hasn’t been found yet, and I’m really just worried about whether she’s still down there, where she is down there, or she went somewhere and found somewhere safer.” He added, “Right now, I just hope she’s alive and well, that she’s going to make it, that my niece still has a grandmother, that I still have a mother that I can talk to.” Mrs Pollard’s family has been informed about the transition to a recovery effort. Mrs Pollard’s vehicle was discovered parked behind Monday’s Union Restaurant in Marguerite, a town situated 40 miles (65km) east of Pittsburgh, in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Her five-year-old granddaughter was found inside, according to officials, who noted that the child was cold but unharmed. Authorities theorize that the sinkhole formed while Mrs Pollard was standing directly above it, searching for her cat, named Pepper. There is a hope that she might be taking refuge in an subterranean “void”. Mr Limani stated on Tuesday, “The sinkhole, it appears that it was most likely created during the time, unfortunately, that Mrs Pollard was walking around.” He further explained, “We don’t see any evidence of any time where that hole would have been there prior to deciding to walk around and look for her cat.” Previously, over 100 individuals were involved in the rescue efforts. Despite surface temperatures being below freezing for several days, the temperatures inside the hole are considerably warmer. Furthermore, authorities have not detected any hazardous gases, which are occasionally present in disused mines.