Search and rescue operations continued for a second day in a small village in southwestern Pennsylvania, where it is feared that a grandmother may have fallen into a sinkhole while searching for her cat, according to state authorities.

“The incident on Marguerite Road is still an active situation,” reported the Unity Township Bureau of Fire in a news statement.

Agencies at local, state, and federal levels are looking for 64-year-old Elizabeth Pollard, who allegedly fell into the sinkhole close to the Union Restaurant in Unity Township, located about 40 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, as confirmed by Pennsylvania State Police to YSL News.

The restaurant has been closed for a second day, as stated on its social media.

On Wednesday, PSP Communications Director Myles Snyder informed YSL News that a camera lowered into the sinkhole showed what looked like a shoe. It was unclear if the shoe belonged to Pollard.

Fire officials from Unity Township indicated that several roads in the vicinity have been closed to set up equipment and ensure “a safe working area for crews.”

The agency is urging the public to stay away from the area.

Concerns raised over unstable abandoned mine: Report

Additionally, officers reported that the abandoned mine near the rescue site is becoming increasingly compromised and hazardous, according to local news station KDKA-TV.

This abandoned mine is located in Marguerite, an unincorporated area that was formerly a coal town in Westmoreland County.

Earlier on Wednesday, Trooper Steve Limani mentioned to KDKA that the mine is “becoming unsafe due to the risk of further cave-ins.”

YSL News has reached out to Limani for further information.

Details on Elizabeth Pollard’s last sighting

Pollard was last seen around 5 PM on Monday while looking for her cat, Pepper, Snyder confirmed to YSL News. Her family reached out to state police around 1 AM on Tuesday to report her absence.

Authorities discovered Pollard’s vehicle parked behind the restaurant at approximately 3 AM, with her five-year-old granddaughter found safe inside the car. State troopers then located a sinkhole nearby that was almost the size of a manhole cover.

Trooper Limani added, “It seems the sinkhole may have formed while Mrs. Pollard was searching for her cat.” There was no evidence suggesting the hole existed prior to her walking around in search of her pet.

More than 100 personnel are currently engaged in the rescue operation.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Pollard family during this very difficult time,” expressed State Representative Leslie Rossi (R-Westmoreland) in a statement on Wednesday.

“To aid in the recovery efforts, Ligonier Construction has been enlisted to provide larger machinery, and the Pennsylvania State Bureau of Mines has sent a mining engineer and air monitoring equipment to assist the team in their search,” said Rossi.

This story is developing.