Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) officials spent time over the past few days filling in a sinkhole and leveling out a number of mine subsidence troughs found by a jogger last Tuesday behind the Tamaqua Elementary School.

"Officials noted the mine subsidence troughs were there for about 15 years, while the sink hole was new," said Tamaqua Public Works director and Tamaqua Emergency Management director Rob Jones.Last Tuesday, Kyra Delodzia, of Tamaqua, just missed the 6-foot wide deep sinkhole while jogging behind the school. The area affected is located about 250 feet northeast of the back of the elementary school and covers a perimeter area of about 3,000 square feet.The area, which is owned by the Tamaqua Area School District, is also located about 350 feet west of the elementary school's basketball court and about 70 feet adjacent to a small road that leads up to the school's sports field.The affected area is still taped off and a plastic fence barrier is also placed around the area to keep people away. The depth of the hole was estimated to be around 35 feet.Officials also pointed out that mine subsidence troughs are common throughout the coal region.