Rescue teams in Japan are dealing with water leaks, gas pipes, and unstable ground as they work to reach a man whose truck fell into a sinkhole near Tokyo two days ago.
The sinkhole, reportedly 10 meters wide and 10 meters deep, appeared at an intersection in Yashio, Saitama prefecture, on Tuesday morning, swallowing a 74-year-old truck driver and his two-ton vehicle.
The rescue mission became more urgent on Thursday as water began seeping into the hole. Authorities have evacuated residents within 200 meters of the site due to concerns about a nearby underground gas pipe.
Efforts to retrieve the man, who has not been identified by Japanese media, were temporarily suspended early Wednesday when a second sinkhole appeared. A video showed workers fleeing as a restaurant sign and telegraph pole were swallowed by the new hole.
The two sinkholes have now merged, creating a larger gap in the road, according to public broadcaster NHK, as rescue operations entered their third day.
Local officials suspect the first sinkhole was caused by a broken sewage pipe, while the second may have resulted from leaking wastewater that weakened the surrounding soil, NHK reported.
Concerns are growing for the man’s well-being. Media reports indicated that he was initially able to speak with emergency workers after the incident, but later did not respond when firefighters called out to him.
Water began accumulating in the hole on Wednesday morning, submerging the driver’s seat, according to the Asahi Shimbun, which added that the man’s condition remains unknown.
The prefectural government decided to release wastewater into a nearby river to help reduce the flow of water into the sinkholes, while 1.2 million residents in surrounding towns and cities were urged to conserve water.
It’s still unclear when the sewage pipe will be repaired, the Mainichi Shimbun reported, noting that the wastewater is being disinfected with chlorine before being released into the river.
Officials believe the first sinkhole was caused by corrosion in a sewer pipe 10 meters underground, with soil and sand likely infiltrating the pipe, causing a hollow that collapsed under the weight of passing vehicles.
“We can’t rule out the possibility of the sinkhole expanding,” said Motohiro Ono, the governor of Saitama prefecture, during a press briefing on Wednesday.
Evacuated residents were compelled to spend the night at a municipal government office and other shelters.
“I never thought the sinkhole would become so serious,” a local man told the Yomiuri Shimbun. Another added, “It’s worrying to think another sinkhole may form near my house. I may not be able to go home for a while.”
Source
- Race to rescue driver trapped in Japan sinkhole for two days – The Guardian