EMERGENCY crews in Japan are racing to rescue a 74-year-old truck driver who has been trapped since Tuesday after his vehicle fell into a massive sinkhole in Yashio City, just north of Tokyo.
The sinkhole, which initially measured around 10 meters (33 feet) wide, has now expanded to 40 meters (130 feet) across—almost the length of an Olympic swimming pool—due to collapsing ground and corroded sewage pipes, authorities said.
DANGEROUS RESCUE OPERATION
Rescuers are working around the clock but face significant challenges due to unstable ground conditions. Officials say the hole, now 10 meters (30 feet) deep, continues to erode, making it too dangerous for workers to remain inside for long periods.
Heavy machinery has been difficult to deploy, and efforts to lift the truck using cranes have been unsuccessful, leaving the driver’s cabin buried under debris.
Emergency crews have started constructing a 30-meter (98-foot) ramp to safely reach the site, but authorities warn it may take several more days to complete.
CORRODED PIPES AND INFRASTRUCTURE CONCERNS
Investigators believe the sinkhole was caused by aging sewage pipes, possibly eroded by strong acidic waste over time.
The damaged pipe, last inspected five years ago, may have allowed the soil to collapse, creating a hidden underground cavity before the road gave way.
Japan’s Land, Infrastructure, and Transport Ministry has ordered a nationwide inspection of sewer systems to prevent similar incidents.
The Yashio sewage pipe, now at the center of the disaster, is about 40 years old, raising concerns about the country’s aging infrastructure.
IMPACT ON RESIDENTS
Authorities have urged over a million residents in Saitama Prefecture to reduce water use, including showers and laundry, to prevent additional sewage leaks into the sinkhole.
Around 20 people near the affected area have evacuated to a local junior high school for safety.
While the rescue mission continues, locals remain on edge. “It feels strange that it’s taking this long. I wonder if he could have been saved sooner,” said a nearby factory worker.