Man caught in Japan for days in the event of the earth, rescue is running

Man caught in Japan for days in the event of the earth, rescue is running

Tokyo (AP) - A truck that fell into a clumsy hole that suddenly appeared on a street near Tokyo, has attracted nationwide attention, while attempts to rescue for the older driver are ongoing.

The situation on site

residents near the clumsy hole have sought refuge in a local school. On Thursday there was concern about possible floods and the departure of wastewater. This also initiated a new discussion about Japan's outdated infrastructure.

what exactly happened?

Shortly after the clumsy hole had appeared in the city of Yashio on Tuesday morning, northeast of Tokyo, a 3-ton truck fell into it. At the beginning the hole was about 10 meters wide and 5 meters deep, but now it has increased to twice the size.

The driver of the truck

A 74-year-old man is suspected of being trapped in the cabin of the flatbed truck. He was previously responsive and communicated with the rescue workers, but he has not reacted since Tuesday afternoon, reported the Yashio fire brigade, Yoshifumi Hashiguchi.

cause of the clumsy

The official of the Wastewater System of Prefecture Saitama, Jun Uehara, said that corrosion, possibly through strong acid that flows through the system, could have caused a hole in the pipe. This led to the soil collapsed over it and formed a large cavity between the pipeline and the street.

In the last visual inspection, which must be carried out every five years, no problem was found with the pipe. The wastewater escaping from the damaged pipe could also cause floods.

challenges in the rescue attempts

the uneven floor with the cavity below makes the rescue measures difficult. TV recordings show how the asphalt tears off and collapsed into the clumsy hole while advertising boards fall over. The authorities tried to save the driver with cranes, but could only get the loading area out, while the cabin in which the driver is suspected remained. It was also tried to remove sediments and dig out the driver. In addition, a drone was flown into the hole to check whether rescue workers can descend, but no progress was made.

effects on the neighbors

residents are asked to reduce water consumption. Parts of the street are blocked and there is uncertainty about how long the operations will last.

About 20 residents within a 200 meter radius around the clumsy hole searched for refuge in a local middle school on Thursday, the city said.

Over one million residents in the Saitama Prefecture, especially in areas where the wastewater flows into the pipe, were asked to restrict washing and bathing to prevent overflowing into the clumsy hole. The officials of the prefecture have also started to rip up the wastewater from a pumping station and to derive into a nearby river after the treatment, explained Uehara.

look into the future

When the driver is saved, experts will go into the clumsy hole and inspect the sewage system.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has ordered a nationwide inspection of the wastewater systems. In one of the most susceptible countries in the world, the clumsy hole has aroused concerns about the aging infrastructure.

A large part of Japan's public infrastructure was built during the quick economic growth in the 1960s and 1970s. The sewage pipe in Yashiro is about 40 years old.