In Japan, rescue workers are working to extricate a truck driver trapped in a sinkhole that emerged on Tuesday and has since expanded.
A sinkhole has emerged in Yashio city, located in Saitama prefecture, close to Tokyo, engulfing a truck in its depths.
Rescue operations face significant challenges due to road collapses, prompting officials to issue evacuation orders for numerous households in the affected area.
According to local media reports, the 74-year-old driver was last heard communicating with rescuers on Tuesday afternoon.
Emergency crews successfully extracted the truck bed from the expansive sinkhole, yet the driver’s cabin remains entombed beneath layers of soil and debris.
A significant hole, approximately 10 meters wide and 5 meters deep, emerged on Tuesday morning at a road junction.
A rupture in an underground sewage pipe is believed to cause the incident.
Officials reported that the flooding of wastewater from the damaged pipe led to the emergence of a second sinkhole on Thursday.
Video footage captured the moment a utility pole and a restaurant signboard came crashing down during the collapse.
The road subsequently gave way, causing the two sinkholes to merge into a 20-meter-wide crater, which has added to the challenges faced by rescue teams.
A significant sinkhole has emerged, raising concerns as it encompasses a gas pipeline, which could lead to a potential leak. Officials have issued evacuation orders for 200 households in the nearby region.
Residents in and around the city have been urged to reduce their water usage.
Japanese cities are witnessing a rise in sinkholes, attributed to the deteriorating condition of their sewage pipeline infrastructure.
In 2016, a massive sinkhole in Fukuoka consumed a five-lane street, leading to significant disruptions in power, water, and transportation services. Reports indicate that no significant injuries were sustained.
In August, authorities suspended the search for a woman who vanished into a pavement sinkhole in the heart of Kuala Lumpur after a week of efforts.
Officials have classified the decision to send divers into the underground sewer system as “too risky,” citing the presence of strong currents and challenging debris conditions.
