Tokyo On Tuesday, a sinkhole the size of a big swimming pool erupted at a busy intersection in the Japanese city of Yashio, swallowing a vehicle and its driver.
At a news meeting on Tuesday, Saitama Prefecture Governor Motohiro Ono stated that the crater, which is roughly 32 feet wide and 16 feet deep, formed at around 10 a.m. local time (8 p.m. ET Monday).
A crack in the sewer pipe in the Nakagawa River Basin is believed to be the reason. He added that the primary goal was to save the driver after a passing truck fell in as a result of this collapse.
According to the Nippon TV station, rescue crews were pumping air into the hole to give the driver oxygen, but the man was still stuck inside the car about eight hours after the collapse since the driver’s seat was full of muck and sand.
The city, which is located north of Tokyo, the capital of Japan, had at least 12 fire vehicles on the scene, according to the broadcaster’s aerial footage.
The reason of the sinkhole is still being investigated, police informed NHK. The broadcaster later stated that rescuers were unable to contact the driver, who had been conscious and able to speak to the authorities earlier in the day.
Less than a mile separates the Yashio City Hall from the bustling junction, which is dotted with eateries and small shops.