Re: Would This Happen Today?
It does happen naturally.
Burning Mountain near Wingen in NSW has been burning for centuries as coal underground burns. It was probably started by a lightning strike.
However it can happen today as the mudcano in Indonesia testifies.
In 2006 there was the eruption of mud from a well in
Indonesia near Lusi which continues to destroy land and swallow villages. Most opinion is that was caused by oil exploration drilling.