The search for a 74-year-old truck driver trapped in a Japan sinkhole began its fourth day on Friday (Jan 31), as worsening ground conditions hampered operations.
The sinkhole in Yashio City, Saitama prefecture, just northeast of Tokyo, arose unexpectedly during the morning rush hour on Tuesday, capturing national attention.
The sinkhole was originally about 10m wide and 5m deep, but it has since grown to twice that size after merging with another cave-in nearby. The truck driver was last heard replying to rescuers on Tuesday afternoon, according to Yoshifumi Hashiguchi, a Yashio fire department official.
According to Japanese broadcaster NHK, contact was lost when the truck grew deeper buried in earth and rubble. Television footage showed the asphalt road splitting and crumbling into a sinkhole, knocking down billboards.
Authorities attempted to save the driver by lifting his vehicle with cranes, but were only able to recover the loading platform, leaving the cabin where the driver is thought to be trapped.
Officials have also attempted unsuccessfully to clear sediment and extract the driver. They also sent a drone down the hole to see if rescuers might climb down, but no progress was made.
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