A massive sinkhole engulfed a truck in Yashio city, Saitama prefecture, near Tokyo, sparking a challenging rescue operation. The initial sinkhole, measuring approximately 10 meters wide and 5 meters deep, emerged at a busy road junction on Tuesday morning. Local authorities swiftly issued evacuation orders to 200 households in the vicinity as the dangerous situation unfolded.
Efforts to rescue the 74-year-old truck driver have been ongoing since Tuesday afternoon, with rescuers last hearing a response from him on the day of the incident. However, the situation became more complex when a second sinkhole appeared on Thursday due to wastewater leakage from a damaged pipe. This development led to further road collapse, merging the two sinkholes into a massive 20-meter-wide crater.
The expanding sinkhole has significantly hindered rescue operations. Rescue teams are working tirelessly to extract the driver from the swallowed truck, facing numerous challenges due to the precarious conditions. The incident has highlighted the pressing issue of sinkholes in Japanese cities, where ageing sewage pipeline infrastructure is increasingly becoming a concern.
The phenomenon of sinkholes is not new to Japan. In 2016, a giant sinkhole in Fukuoka swallowed an entire five-lane street, causing significant disruptions to power, water, and transport services. Similarly, last August, a search for a woman who disappeared into a pavement sinkhole in Kuala Lumpur ended after a week without success, illustrating the potential dangers and challenges associated with such incidents.
Leave a Reply