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