Rescue teams in Japan are in a desperate battle to save a 74-year-old truck driver trapped inside a massive sinkhole in Yashio City, Saitama Prefecture, near Tokyo. The sinkhole first appeared on Tuesday, swallowing the truck, and has since widened due to ongoing road collapses.
Efforts to reach the driver have been fraught with challenges. While emergency crews managed to remove the truck’s bed, the driver’s cabin remains buried under soil debris. The last known contact with the driver was on Tuesday afternoon, according to local reports.
Authorities believe the sinkhole, originally 10 meters (33 feet) wide and 5 meters deep, was triggered by a ruptured underground sewage pipe. On Thursday, a second collapse caused the hole to double in size to 20 meters, further complicating the rescue. Video footage captured a utility pole and a restaurant signboard plunging into the crater.
Adding to the danger, a gas pipeline runs through the sinkhole, raising fears of a possible leak. Officials have issued evacuation orders for 200 households and urged residents to conserve water.
Japan has seen an increase in sinkholes due to aging sewage infrastructure. In 2016, a massive sinkhole swallowed a five-lane street in Fukuoka, though no serious injuries were reported.
Rescue teams continue to work tirelessly, but time is running out. The fate of the trapped driver remains uncertain as the ground beneath Yashio City continues to crumble.