A 74-year-old truck driver was swallowed by a sinkhole in Saitama Prefecture, just north of Tokyo, over two days ago. The driver had stopped near an intersection when the sinkhole suddenly opened beneath the road, taking him and his vehicle with it. Despite initial signs of life, attempts to contact him since have been unsuccessful.
Rescue efforts have been hindered by the fragile ground surrounding the sinkhole, which has expanded in size as more debris falls into it. A second hole merged with the first, forming a larger depression approximately 65 feet in diameter. The front section of the truck, where the driver is believed to be trapped, is no longer visible.
Firefighters are considering using heavy machinery to clear debris and access the trapped driver. They had previously lifted part of the cargo bed to the surface but failed to locate the driver. The collapse was triggered by a burst sewer pipe under the road, prompting 1.2 million residents in the area to refrain from using water until repairs are made.
Routine inspections of the sewer system did not identify any urgent need for repairs prior to the incident. However, Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has called for emergency inspections of similar infrastructure, particularly those connected to large-scale wastewater treatment plants.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/30/world/asia/japan-sinkhole-driver-rescue.html