(CLO) Japanese authorities have ordered hundreds of residents near Tokyo to evacuate after a sinkhole more than 40 meters wide appeared at an intersection, preventing rescuers from reaching an elderly truck driver trapped when his car fell into the hole.
On Tuesday, part of an intersection in Saitama Prefecture, about 29 kilometers north of Tokyo, suddenly caved in, swallowing a three-ton truck and its 74-year-old driver.
By Friday, an official said the sinkhole had expanded to 40 meters, four times its original size. "The hole is continuing to hollow out and it's getting bigger," said a representative of the Saitama Prefectural Drainage and Sewerage Department.
A large sinkhole swallowed a truck and its driver at an intersection in Yashio, Saitama Prefecture. (Photo: GI)
Rescue teams used a crane to lift part of the truck and deployed a drone to probe underneath, but have not been able to contact the driver since Tuesday.
Authorities suspect the cause of the incident was a corroded sewer pipe, which led to the sinkhole. They also believe that leaking wastewater may have eroded the surrounding ground, causing the sinkhole to widen.
About 200 households in the area have been asked to evacuate since Tuesday. Local authorities have also advised the 1.2 million residents to limit bathing and washing to reduce wastewater and avoid further complicating the situation in the area.
The sudden sinkhole has left many residents in the densely populated area concerned about the aging plumbing system beneath their homes and businesses. "I live nearby and have been watching all the news. It was really scary when the sinkhole opened up," said one resident.
In response, Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has ordered emergency inspections of similar sewers across Saitama Prefecture and six neighboring prefectures, home to about 39 million people.
Damaged pipe
Takashi Oguchi, a geographer at the University of Tokyo, said sinkholes were rare in Japan, where most roads are built on unconsolidated river and marine sediments. But he warned that if a major underground water pipe bursts, the leaking water could wash away the sediments, leading to a serious risk of sinking.
Much of Japan's public infrastructure was built in the 1960s–1970s, during the economic boom after World War II, when much of Tokyo had been destroyed by American bombings.
The wastewater treatment system in Saitama Prefecture alone, where the incident occurred, is about 42 years old.
“Incidents like this are likely to happen more frequently in the future, as underground pipeline systems are deteriorating, while many pipelines are located right below the road surface,” Oguchi said.
Reiko Kuwano, a professor at the University of Tokyo, said inspecting pipes buried deep underground has always been a big challenge for experts.
Rescue operations face many difficulties
At the scene of a landslide in Saitama on Friday, rescuers were racing against time to reach a driver trapped for days under the road.
This task is becoming increasingly complicated, according to a representative of the local Department of Drainage Works.
The driver initially fell into a single sinkhole, but that later merged with a second nearby sinkhole, causing the area of the collapse to expand further.
“The driver was buried under soil and sand. If we bring heavy equipment near the area, the risk of further landslides is very high,” the official said.
To ensure safety, rescue teams are planning to build a ramp to bring heavy equipment into the area in a controlled manner.
Ha Trang (according to CNN)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/ho-tu-than-nuot-chung-mot-xe-tai-o-nhat-ban-dang-mo-rong-post332534.html
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