Massive Sinkhole Expands Near Tokyo, Hindering Rescue Efforts for Trapped Truck Driver

Japanese authorities have ordered the evacuation of hundreds of residents near Tokyo as a rapidly expanding sinkhole at an intersection now spans over 40 meters wide, complicating efforts to rescue a 74-year-old truck driver whose vehicle was swallowed by the crater.

The sinkhole first appeared on Tuesday in Saitama Prefecture, about 18 miles north of Japan’s capital, engulfing a three-ton truck and prompting an ongoing four-day rescue mission. A local official confirmed on Friday that the hole has quadrupled in size since its initial collapse.

“The inside is gouging, and it’s getting bigger every day,” said an official from Saitama Prefecture’s Sewerage Works Division.

Rescuers have deployed cranes to lift part of the truck and used drones to explore the underground terrain but have been unable to establish contact with the trapped driver since Tuesday. Officials suspect corroded sewer pipes caused the ground collapse, with leaking wastewater accelerating soil erosion and widening the chasm.

Authorities have urged 200 households to evacuate, while 1.2 million residents have been advised to avoid bathing or doing laundry to minimize wastewater flow, which could further destabilize the site.

The sudden ground collapse has raised concerns among residents about the aging underground infrastructure beneath densely populated areas. “I live close to the area, and I’ve been watching all the news footage. The moment the hole widens was really scary,” a user posted on X.

In response, Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has ordered emergency inspections of similar sewer pipes across Saitama and six other prefectures, affecting around 39 million people.

Experts warn that Japan’s aging infrastructure, much of which dates back to the 1960s and 1970s economic boom, is increasingly susceptible to such incidents. The sewage system in the affected area is approximately 42 years old.

Rescue efforts remain challenging as the sinkhole continues to expand. Officials report that the initial hole merged with a secondary sinkhole, further complicating the mission. The driver is buried under debris, and authorities fear bringing heavy equipment too close may cause additional collapses.

Rescue teams are now constructing a ramp to approach the site safely, with plans to complete it by the end of the day.

Source: Swifteradio.com