Photos show rescue underway for missing Pennsylvania woman believed to be in sinkhole

A woman out searching for her missing cat overnight in Westmoreland County may have fallen down a sinkhole behind a restaurant in Unity Township, state police said.

Police believe sinkhole opened up while woman was looking for cat

"The sinkhole, it appears that it was most likely created during the time, unfortunately, that Mrs. Pollard was walking around," Pennsylvania State Trooper Steve Limani said. "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."

Search and rescue teams converge on sinkhole

Troopers called in search and rescue teams from Westmoreland County, as well as a vacuum truck to remove debris from inside the hole.

Emergency disaster gives crews access to equipment

Unity Township supervisor Mike O'Barto said officials declared a disaster emergency to help with the search.  

Police believe hole is about 30 feet deep

Police believe this is the hole 64-year-old Elizabeth Pollard fell into while searching for her missing cat in Unity Township, Westmoreland County. 

Vacuum removes debris from sinkhole

A vacuum truck was brought in to remove debris from inside the hole. Crews plan on digging to find the woman. 

Crews plan to dig in sinkhole for missing woman

Authorities believe the woman is inside the hole, saying a camera picked up a shoe inside. 

Authorities give update on search for missing woman

Police and local authorities held a press conference to give an update for a search on the missing woman. 

Crews widen sinkhole during search

Crews are widening the hole but so far have not been able to make contact with the woman. 

Crews continue search for woman believed to be in sinkhole

Officials believe they're looking in the right spot after finding a shoe in the hole.

Rescuers search abandoned mine for missing woman

Crews have been putting cameras and mics down in the hole in an attempt  to see and hear the missing woman but haven't had any luck yet. 

Elizabeth Pollard believed to have fallen into sinkhole while looking for cat

Police believe Elizabeth Pollard fell into a sinkhole while looking for her cat in Unity Township, Westmoreland County. 

Groups go into mine to search for missing woman

State police said groups have gone down and have managed to make entry into the mine area, but they still haven't found the missing woman. 

Rescuers remain optimistic in search for missing woman

"There's people that were in mines an hour from here that were in there longer and were recovered and saved," said Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Steve Limani. "That doesn't mean that this can't happen here. It doesn't mean she can't be in a pocket somewhere. The fact that we didn't find her immediately could be a good thing, right? Maybe she was able to move to a different location. The ceiling, it looks like, is pretty high once you get down into the mine, to the point where it almost looks like a human could traverse it and walk it."