Rescue teams in Japan have commenced construction of a ramp in an effort to access a 74-year-old truck driver who has gone silent since his vehicle was engulfed by a sinkhole earlier this week.
The void has widened to 40 metres in diameter, nearly the width of an Olympic swimming pool, since it first appeared in a city situated just north of Tokyo on Tuesday morning, according to officials.
Authorities in Yashio suspect that corroded sewage pipes may have contributed to the expanding hole.
“It is a highly hazardous situation,” stated local fire chief Tetsuji Sato, speaking to reporters at the traffic intersection where numerous rescuers are engaged in round-the-clock efforts.
The void has widened to 40 metres in diameter, almost the same length as an Olympic swimming pool, since it emerged on Tuesday morning.
He mentioned that groundwater was seeping in and that the hole was “continuing to collapse.”
The driver has not been in communication since around midday Tuesday, as soil and other debris now obscure the cabin of his truck in Yashio.
Rescue teams in Japan have initiated the construction of a ramp in hopes of reaching a 74-year-old truck driver.
Eroding walls and falling debris
The damaged pipes “potentially permitted the surrounding soil to flow in, leading to the hollowing out of the space beneath the surface,” remarked Daisuke Tsutsui, an official from the Saitama prefecture.
Officials aimed to finish the 30-metre slope today; however, a local official indicated that it may require several days to complete.
The operation has been complicated by the continuous erosion of the inner walls of the hole, which is currently about 10 metres deep, forcing rescue workers to limit their time inside.
Initially, the hole measured approximately five metres in diameter but has since merged with a significantly larger cavity that emerged during the rescue efforts on Tuesday night.
As the sinkhole has broadened, large chunks of asphalt have periodically plummeted into it, complicating access for the rescue teams.
1.2 million residents in the vicinity have been urged to minimize their use of showers and laundry.
This situation has also increased the risks associated with positioning heavy machinery in close proximity to the site.
The 1.2 million individuals residing in the area have been advised to reduce water usage for showers and laundry to alleviate the challenges presented by leaking sewage.
“It’s tough to limit toilet use, but we are urging everyone to use less water wherever possible,” an official commented.
Some of the sewage water was diverted to a nearby river to mitigate the runoff entering the hole.
Local factory worker Takuya Koroku expressed, “It feels quite unusual that the search is taking such a long time. I wonder if he could have been rescued much sooner.”
“I’m apprehensive about being nearby,” added the 51-year-old.
Read more: Rescue operation after truck falls into sinkhole in Japan
