NORTH VERSAILLES (KDKA) — Officials in North Versailles are trying to get to the bottom of what’s causing a slide in their community.

The problem started out as a hole about 1-foot wide. They filled it, but now it has grown into a trench 75-feet long, 5-feet wide and 25-feet deep.

Officials from the Department of Environmental Protection were at the scene to check out the problem. They ruled out mine subsidence.

“So we’re down below the coal seam,” Scott Hamilton, with DEP Mine Reclamation, said. “Mine subsidence up there isn’t going to impact this hillside down here.”

Water samples appear to back up that theory.

Now, North Versailles officials say there will likely be a study before they can fix the trench.

“They need to drill to explore where the solid rock is or solid foundation is,” Township Engineer John Glenn said.

A number of backyards on Woodland Road are at risk. Overnight, the ground dropped another 3 feet.

Township officials have no idea how much it will cost to fix the problem, but they expect it to be a hefty tab.

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