30.01.2025 11:00
Rescue efforts for the driver of a pickup truck that fell into a sinkhole caused by road subsidence at an intersection in Japan are continuing on the second day. Due to sewage flowing into the sinkhole, the city's 1.2 million residents have been warned: "Do not flush the toilet too much, do not wash laundry, postpone showers. Limit water flow into the sewage system..." It has been reported that the driver, who has been in radio contact, has not made any sound for the last few hours.
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Rescue efforts for the driver of a truck that fell into a giant sinkhole on the road northwest of Tokyo, Japan's capital, continue on the second day.
8-METER TRUCK FELL INTO THE PIT
According to state television NHK, an 8-meter-long truck in motion fell into a deep pit formed by the road collapsing at an intersection in the Yashio district of Saitama Prefecture. Fire crews were dispatched to the scene after the accident. The rescue team, which descended into the pit measuring approximately 10 meters wide and 6 meters deep, was unsuccessful in their attempt to open the truck's door due to the risk of further collapses.
SEWAGE WATER HINDERED OPERATIONS
During the rescue operations, 2 firefighters were injured. The rescue efforts were temporarily halted due to the risk of the driver and firefighters being trapped underground. It was reported that the sewage water accumulating in the pit hindered the operations and that the section where the driver's seat was located remained buried under a pile of sand. With construction cranes dispatched to the scene, the cargo box of the truck was able to be removed from the pit early this morning. While the rescue efforts have been ongoing for approximately 36 hours, the fate of the driver in his 70s remains unknown.
EVACUATION WARNING FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS
Meanwhile, a larger pit formed in the same area today due to road collapse. Restaurant signs around the intersection were toppled, and electric poles fell into the pit. It is estimated that the road subsidence may have been caused by the bursting of a sewage pipe located 10 meters below the state highway. Due to the natural gas pipes located underground, evacuation warnings were issued to local residents.
"DO NOT WASH LAUNDRY"
A call was made to approximately 1.2 million people living in 12 cities surrounding the district: "Do not flush too much, do not wash laundry, postpone showers. Let less water go into the sewage..." Saitama Governor Motohiro Ono stated to reporters that they could not ignore the possibility of the subsidence expanding.
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