Abandoned homes, deserted streets and family possessions strewn aside: The Oklahoma ghost town that residents fled when it was turned toxic by mining

Picher was a zinc and lead mining city ruined by crumbling foundations and contaminated groundwater

It was evacuated in 2006 and mostly demolished in 2011, but a handful of buildings remain

Photographer and activist Seph Lawless captures the ruins in his book The Prelude: The Deadliest City in America

He says that 'it’s imperative' that people not only know about Picher's rise and fall, 'but see it'

At one point when shooting, the ground gave way beneath his feet, due to a collapsing mining tunnel 

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3510116/The-earth-swallow-no-one-know-Stunning-pictures-scary-stories-poisoned-ruins-Oklahoma-town-dubbed-deadliest-city-America.html#ixzz441TH4566