Rescue teams in Japan are facing challenges from water leaks, gas lines, and unstable ground as they work to reach a man whose truck fell into a sinkhole near Tokyo two days ago. The sinkhole, measuring approximately 10 meters in diameter and depth, appeared at an intersection in Yashio, Saitama Prefecture, on Tuesday morning, engulfing the 74-year-old truck driver along with his two-ton vehicle.
The urgency of the rescue operation intensified on Thursday due to reports of water seeping into the sinkhole. Residents within a 200-meter radius have been ordered to evacuate due to concerns about a nearby underground gas line. Efforts to rescue the man, whose identity has not been disclosed by Japanese media, were temporarily suspended early Wednesday after a second sinkhole emerged. A video captured the moment when workers fled for safety as a restaurant sign and a telegraph pole were consumed by the new sinkhole.
According to public broadcaster NHK, the two sinkholes have merged, creating a larger gap in the roadway as rescue efforts entered their third day. Local officials suspect that the initial collapse was likely caused by a broken sewage pipe, while the second sinkhole may have resulted from leaking wastewater that destabilized the surrounding soil.
Concerns for the man’s safety are growing. Reports indicate that he was able to communicate with emergency responders shortly after the incident but became unresponsive when firefighters called out to him later that day. By Wednesday morning, water had begun to fill the sinkhole, submerging the driver’s seat, with his condition remaining unknown.
In response, the prefectural government has decided to discharge wastewater into a nearby river to mitigate the water inflow into the sinkholes, while 1.2 million residents in adjacent towns and cities have been advised to conserve water. The timeline for repairing the sewage pipe is still uncertain, with reports indicating that the wastewater is being treated with chlorine before being released into the river. Officials believe the initial sinkhole was caused by corrosion in the sewer pipe located 10 meters underground, which may have allowed soil and sand to enter, leading to a collapse under the weight of vehicles.
Saitama Prefecture Governor Motohiro Ono expressed concerns about the potential for further sinkhole expansion during a press conference on Wednesday. Evacuated residents have been forced to spend the night in municipal government offices and other facilities. One local resident remarked to the Yomiuri Shimbun, “I never thought the sinkhole would become so serious,” while another expressed anxiety about the possibility of additional sinkholes forming near their home, stating, “I may not be able to go home for a while.