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Japan tries to rescue man stuck in sinkhole. Here's what's going on.

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Japan tries to rescue man stuck in sinkhole. Here's what's going on.
News

News

Japan tries to rescue man stuck in sinkhole. Here's what's going on.

2025-01-30 17:36 Last Updated At:17:51

TOKYO (AP) — A truck that fell into a sinkhole that suddenly opened on a road near Tokyo has captured national attention as attempts to rescue the elderly driver drag on. Residents near the hole have taken shelter at a local school, and there were worries Thursday about flooding and leaking sewage water. There's also been a renewed debate about Japan’s aging infrastructure.

Just after the sinkhole appeared in Yashio City, just northeast of Tokyo, on Tuesday morning a 3-ton truck fell into it. At first the sinkhole was roughly 10 meters (33 feet) wide and 5-meters (16-feet) deep, but it has since grown to twice that size.

A 74-year-old man is believed to be trapped in the cabin of the flat-bed truck. He was conscious and communicating with rescue workers earlier but hasn't responded since Tuesday afternoon, according to Yashio fire department official Yoshifumi Hashiguchi.

Saitama prefectural sewer system official Jun Uehara said corrosion, possibly because of strong acid constantly passing through the system, might have created a hole in the pipe, causing soil above to fall in and create a large hollow space between it and the road.

No problem was found with the pipe during its last visual inspection, which is required every five years. The sewage water leaking out of the damaged pipe may also cause flooding.

The unsteady ground, with a hollow space below it, is hampering the rescue. Television footage captured the asphalt road cracking and collapsing into the sinkhole, knocking down billboards. Authorities have tried to save the driver by lifting his truck with cranes, but they could only recover the loading platform, leaving behind the cabin where the driver is believed to be trapped. Officials have also tried without success to remove sediment and dig out the driver. They also flew a drone into the hole to see if rescue workers can climb down, but no progress has been made.

Neighbors are being asked to cut back on water use. Parts of the road are closed. There's also uncertainty about how long the operations will last.

About 20 residents within a 200-meter (656-feet) radius of the sinkhole have taken shelter at a local junior high school Thursday, according to the city.

Over one million residents across the Saitama prefecture, especially in areas where sewage goes to the pipe, have been asked to cut back on laundry and bathing to prevent it from overflowing into the sinkhole. Prefectural officials have also started diverting sewage from an upstream pumping station and release it into a nearby river after treatment, Uehara said.

When the driver is taken out, experts will enter the sinkhole and inspect the sewage system.

The Land, Infrastructure and Transport Ministry has ordered a nationwide inspection of sewer systems. In one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries, the sinkhole has raised worries about aging infrastructure.

Most of Japan’s main public infrastructure was built during the rapid economic growth of the 1960s and 1970s. The sewage pipe in Yashiro is about 40 years old.

First responders try to rescue the driver of a truck that fell into a sinkhole on a street in Yashio, northeast of Tokyo, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. (Kenichiro Kojima/Kyodo News via AP)

First responders try to rescue the driver of a truck that fell into a sinkhole on a street in Yashio, northeast of Tokyo, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. (Kenichiro Kojima/Kyodo News via AP)

Police officers and rescue members prepare for a rescue mission in Yashio, northeast of Tokyo, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, two days after a truck fell into the sinkhole made on a street Tuesday. (Yu Matsuda/Kyodo News via AP)

Police officers and rescue members prepare for a rescue mission in Yashio, northeast of Tokyo, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, two days after a truck fell into the sinkhole made on a street Tuesday. (Yu Matsuda/Kyodo News via AP)

Mohamed Salah scored one goal and set up the equalizer by Trent Alexander-Arnold in Liverpool’s 2-2 draw at Aston Villa that stretched its lead in the Premier League to eight points on Wednesday.

Salah tucked away with his league-leading 24th goal of the campaign to put Liverpool ahead at Villa Park in the 29th minute, only for the leaders to fall behind by halftime following a volley by Youri Tielemans and a header from Ollie Watkins.

Alexander-Arnold ran onto an inside pass from Salah and drove in a shot that deflected past Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez in the 61st as Liverpool salvaged a point, avoiding what would have been just a second league defeat of the season.

Liverpool has now played a game more than second-place Arsenal, which appears to be the only other realistic challenger for the title, and has another tough away game on Sunday at Manchester City.

Liverpool is seeking a 20th top-flight championship to tie the record of Manchester United.

Salah is spearheading Liverpool's title charge. Not only is the Egypt forward the league's top scorer, with five more than nearest challenger Erling Haaland of Manchester City, he has more assists than anyone else with 15.

Should Arsenal wind up reeling in Liverpool, the Reds may regret a big miss from Darwin Nunez after the Uruguay striker came on as a substitute. Dominik Szoboszlai ran through a squared the ball to Nunez, who had an open goal at which to aim with a left-footed shot.

Nunez blazed the finish high and wide, with Liverpool manager Arne Slot barely believing what he had seen on the touchline.

While drawing at Villa isn't a bad result in normal circumstances, it still means Liverpool has dropped points in back-to-back midweek games — after a 2-2 draw at local rival Everton last Wednesday.

Arsenal plays first out of the top two at the weekend — at home to West Ham on Saturday — and has the chance to trim the lead to five points before Liverpool meets City.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins, left, scores his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Liverpool at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Darren Staples)

Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins, left, scores his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Liverpool at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Darren Staples)

Aston Villa's goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez celebrates after Aston Villa's Youri Tielemans scoring his side's opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Liverpool at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Darren Staples)

Aston Villa's goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez celebrates after Aston Villa's Youri Tielemans scoring his side's opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Liverpool at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Darren Staples)

Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins, left, scores his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Liverpool at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Darren Staples)

Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins, left, scores his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Liverpool at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Darren Staples)

Aston Villa's Marcus Rashford reacts after missing a chance to score during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Liverpool at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Darren Staples)

Aston Villa's Marcus Rashford reacts after missing a chance to score during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Liverpool at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Darren Staples)

Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold, right, scores his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Liverpool at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Darren Staples)

Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold, right, scores his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Liverpool at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Darren Staples)

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, left, celebrates with Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister after scoring the opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Liverpool at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Darren Staples)

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, left, celebrates with Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister after scoring the opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Liverpool at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Darren Staples)

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