In a tragic incident near Japan’s capital, Tokyo, the body of a truck driver was recovered on Friday, three months after his vehicle plummeted into a sinkhole. The sinkhole emerged on a road in Yashio City, located just northeast of Tokyo, in January, disrupting the normal flow of traffic and shocking local residents.
The incident involved a 3-ton truck which was swallowed by the sinkhole. During the initial search efforts, workers attempted to hoist the truck from the chasm but managed to retrieve only its flat-bed. Meanwhile, the truck’s 74-year-old driver, trapped inside the cabin, was feared to have been carried roughly 30 meters downstream by the strong currents. This unfortunate assumption turned out to be accurate.
After extensive preparation spanning three months, a team of rescuers, equipped with helmets and protective hazmat suits, ventured into the newly constructed safe underground corridor to locate and recover the driver’s body, according to official reports.
Specialists attributed the Yashio sinkhole to sewer pipe corrosion, which destabilized the ground above and created a hazardous cavity below. The treacherous conditions complicated the rescue operations, prompting authorities to request residents to reduce water usage to decrease sewage flow in the affected area.
This incident has highlighted concerns over Japan’s aging infrastructure, particularly given that much of it dates back to the rapid development period of the 1960s and 1970s. The Land, Infrastructure, and Transport Ministry has reported the occurrence of over 10,500 sinkholes across Japan, many linked to deteriorating urban sewage systems.
Yashio’s Mayor, Shinobu Oyama, expressed his heartfelt condolences to the driver’s family and offered his prayers for the deceased. Additionally, the Mayor committed to expediting the reconstruction of the compromised roadway to restore order and safety post-incident.