Rescue Teams Race Against Time to Free Truck Driver Trapped in Japan Sinkhole
A truck driver has been trapped in a widening sinkhole in Japan, with rescuers working tirelessly to free him despite significant challenges from road collapses and safety concerns.
Rescue efforts in Japan are intensifying as workers attempt to free a 74-year-old truck driver who has been trapped in a sinkhole that opened up in Yashio city, Saitama prefecture, on Tuesday. The massive sinkhole, which appeared near Tokyo, has since expanded, making the rescue operation more complicated.
According to local media, the driver was last heard responding to rescue workers on Tuesday afternoon. Emergency crews managed to remove the truck bed from the sinkhole, which is about 10 meters (33 feet) wide and 5 meters deep. However, the truck's cabin remains buried under layers of soil and debris.
The sinkhole first appeared at a road junction early on Tuesday morning and is believed to have been caused by a ruptured underground sewage pipe. As wastewater from the damaged pipe flooded the hole, it triggered a second collapse on Thursday, causing the sinkhole to grow larger.
Video footage from the scene captured a utility pole and restaurant signboard falling into the sinkhole during the second collapse. The road continued to give way, merging the two sinkholes into a single, 20-meter-wide crater, further complicating the rescue efforts.
Adding to the danger, the sinkhole is now threatening a gas pipeline, prompting fears of a potential gas leak. In response, authorities have evacuated 200 households in the surrounding area. Residents have been advised to reduce their water usage as a precautionary measure.
Sinkholes are becoming an increasingly common problem in Japan, where aging infrastructure, particularly sewage pipes, has led to several similar incidents. In 2016, a massive sinkhole in Fukuoka swallowed a five-lane street, causing widespread disruption but resulting in no serious injuries.
More recently, in Kuala Lumpur, a search for a woman who vanished into a sinkhole was called off after a week, with authorities deeming it "too risky" to continue searching due to strong currents and debris in the underground sewer system.
As rescue operations continue, the fate of the trapped driver remains uncertain, with authorities and rescue teams working around the clock to reach him.