Rescue Efforts Hampered as Sinkholes Widen in Japan

Rescue workers in Japan have been trying since two days ago to extract a truck driver from a sinkhole in Yashio, near Tokyo. The likelihood of his rescue is diminishing.

According to Japanese media, the 74-year-old driver was last heard from on Tuesday. Rescue efforts are challenged by collapsed roads, and authorities have evacuated dozens of households nearby.

The sinkhole, approximately 20 meters wide and 5 meters deep, appeared on Tuesday morning, likely caused by a broken sewer pipe. The truck’s cargo bed has been removed, but the driver’s cab remains buried.

A second sinkhole emerged on Thursday, merging with the first and forming a 20-meter wide crater, containing a gas line. Fears of a gas leak have led to 200 households being evacuated as a precaution.

Residents, totaling around 1.2 million, are urged to conserve water to prevent worsening the situation. Sinkholes are increasingly common in Japanese cities due to aging sewer systems.

Notably, in 2016, a massive sinkhole in Fukuoka disrupted utilities and transport. Elsewhere, searches for individuals lost in sinkholes, such as in Kuala Lumpur and Pennsylvania, have been halted due to safety concerns.

Source: NOS

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