Centralia, the ghost town that has been burning for 60 years, and won’t stop for 200 years

The Centralia Fire in Pennsylvania, USA, began in 1962.when it still had 1,500 inhabitants. The fire is still burning beneath their feet, and will continue until at least the year 2267, according to experts.

Founded in 1866 around the Cabeza de Toro tavern, in its time of greatest boom Centralia once had seven churches, five hotels, twenty-seven ballrooms, two theaters, a bank, a post office, and fourteen stores and businesses.

But everything changed when in 1962 a fire in a landfill, which is still going on. And will do so for another 250 years. It is almost impossible to extinguish.

Centralia, the ghost town and its invisible fire

If you visit Centralia today, you will see that the village has completely disappearedThe local government has demolished all the houses. Only those of the four inhabitants remain, who refuse to leave, even though they have been stripped of their postal code.

In Centralia, something as everyday as going out is dangerousA sign at the entrance to the village warns: “Walking or driving may cause injury or death. Ground may suddenly collapse. Toxic gases present.”

However, There is no visible fire in the area. But it smells like carbon dioxide. And, in some places, smoke comes out of the groundWhat happened in Centralia?

This Pennsylvania town has lived off coal mining all its life. coal It has been the reason for its existence, and also its downfall.

In 1962, a landfill that was unwisely located on an open coal seam began to burn.The fire spread to the interior of the mine, which extends thousands of meters deep into the earth and over 13 kilometers.

After 62 years of burning, the fire is still active, at a depth of about 1,500 meters. Given the amount of coal in the mine, it is estimated that will not become extinct for another 250 years.

Several documentaries and reports have been filmed telling their story, here you can see one of them:

With an eternal and invisible fire under your feet, it is not safe to continue living there.The heat generated by the fire burns roots, cracks roads, and causes soil and houses to collapse.

Besides gives off poisonous gasessuch as carbon dioxide. That’s why the Pennsylvania government decided to demolish the town, and there’s almost nothing left.

Centralia, the ghost town with a fire under its feet, which has been going on for 62 yearsAnd it will be centuries before it becomes extinct. Life and death linked to coal.

Known how we work in Computerhoy.

Tags: Travel, Viral, Curiosities