Sinkhole swallows truck in Japan, trapping driver inside
TOKYO -- An oval-shaped pit suddenly formed on a busy road in Yashio, Japan, on Tuesday, taking down a truck and trapping the driver inside. Emergency crews battled unstable ground and debris.
The crater is about 30 feet wide and 16 feet deep. It formed in a well-traveled area of Saitama Prefecture, just outside Tokyo, Japan's capital. While Tokyo is a global economic hub, Saitama is more residential.
Authorities said the driver, a man, is inside the cab and in communication with firefighters. However, his truck's front end appeared lodged in dirt, making the rescue difficult.
Locals appeared stunned. One woman described hearing a thunderous boom, running outside and seeing a hole where the road had been: "I could still see part of the truck at first, but then it kept sinking ... and sinking ... and then it was just gone."
Another man, on his way to grab lunch, said he was just as shocked: "I drive this road all the time. Now I don't know if it's even safe to use anymore."
Firefighters have deployed a crane and ropes. The walls of the hole are fragile, making the operation dangerous. Police have shut down roads in the area, fearing more collapses. The status of the driver is unclear.
The cause of the sinkhole is also not clear, but officials are investigating whether underground pipes, recent weather or construction may have contributed.
