Officials in Japan trying to rescue truck driver trapped in sinkhole for three days
In Yashio City, just north of Tokyo, emergency crews are working tirelessly to rescue a 74-year-old man whose truck was swallowed by a massive sinkhole that opened up on Tuesday. The rescue operation has been complicated by unstable ground and a hollow space beneath the surface, making it difficult to reach the trapped driver. Authorities attempted to use cranes to lift the truck but were only able to recover the loading platform, leaving the cabin—where the driver is believed to be trapped—still buried.
Rescue teams have also tried removing sediment to reach the driver and even sent a drone into the sinkhole to assess whether it was safe to descend, but neither approach proved feasible. “The situation is extremely dangerous,” said Fire Chief Tetsuji Sato on Thursday. Initially, emergency workers hoped to build a 30-meter ramp by Friday to access the driver, but a local official later indicated that completing the ramp could take several more days.
Meanwhile, about 20 residents living within a 200-meter radius of the sinkhole have been evacuated to a nearby junior high school for safety. Additionally, over a million residents in the area have been asked to reduce their water usage, including limiting laundry and bathing, to prevent excess water from flowing into the sinkhole and worsening the situation. “We understand it’s challenging to avoid using water, especially for essential needs like toilets, but we’re urging everyone to do their best to conserve as much as possible,” said an unnamed prefecture official.
The incident has prompted Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport to order a nationwide inspection of sewer systems. As one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world, the Yashio sinkhole has sparked concerns about the aging infrastructure of sewage pipelines and the potential for similar incidents in the future.
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