10 hours ago
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Japanese emergency services worked tirelessly to rescue a truck driver that fell into a massive sinkhole near Tokyo, estimated to be 33 feet wide, roughly the size of a swimming pool and 20 feet deep.
Authorities in Yashio City, Saitama, received emergency calls around 9.50 am (0050 GMT) on Tuesday, reporting that a road had collapsed, causing a lorry to plunge into the hole, as per CBS news.
'Trapped in sinkhole for over 24 hours'
Rescuers considered using heavy equipment to extract the vehicle, whilst being mindful of potential further collapse. By Wednesday, efforts were still underway to save a Japanese truck driver who had been trapped in the sinkhole for over 24 hours, as authorities evacuated local residents due to concerns over potential gas pipe ruptures.
"Rescue operations have continued around the clock but we haven't been able to contact the driver," a fire department spokesman had earlier told AFP.
'Driver's cabin buried beneath debris'
The driver, believed to be in his 70s, was in contact with rescuers until early Tuesday afternoon. However, worsening ground instability forced rescue workers to retreat, and no further contact had been made with him since around 1:00 pm (0400 GMT).
Aerial footage showed the expanding damage, with the main body of the truck being pulled from the first sinkhole around 1 am on Wednesday.
Although emergency crews successfully removed the truck bed from the pool-sized sinkhole, the driver's cabin remains buried beneath soil and debris.
'Unable to use heavy machinery'
Two team members sustained minor injuries while attempting to enter the sinkhole. Officials are investigating the cause of the collapse, with reports indicating that a sewer system runs beneath the affected intersection, according to Kyodo News.
"At around 2:30 am on Thursday, the two holes became one, and with the risk of another landslide or collapse of roads, we've been unable to use heavy machinery," a fire department official told AFP.
'Limit water usage to prevent leakage'
Japanese officials have requested 1.2 million residents to limit their water usage, including bathing and washing clothes, to prevent sewage leakage from hampering efforts to rescue a lorry driver trapped in a sinkhole.
"Putting our first priority on saving the person's life, we are asking residents to refrain from non-essential use of water such as taking a bath or doing laundry," a Saitama prefecture official said.
"Using toilets is difficult to refrain from, but we are asking to use less water as much as possible," the official added.
The prefecture issued a notice to approximately 1.2 million inhabitants, stating "please continue to minimise sewage usage as contaminated water might overflow".
Earlier in 2016, a substantial sinkhole emerged on a five-lane road in Hakata, Japan. This incident resulted in power outages and traffic disruptions, though maintenance teams worked continuously to repair the substantial road damage.
China hosts the world's largest sinkhole, with a depth exceeding 2,100 feet, according to the BBC.
