Man’s body finally found three months after falling into huge sinkhole in Japan
Authorities in Japan have confirmed the recovery of the remains of a truck driver who fell into a massive sinkhole in Saitama Prefecture three months ago.
The incident occurred during the morning commute in late January in the city of Yashio, when a section of road unexpectedly collapsed while the 74-year-old individual was operating his truck on it.
The sinkhole, later determined to have been caused by deteriorated sewerage pipes, reportedly reached a depth of 16 meters by February.
The subsequent search and recovery efforts were significantly complicated by the precarious condition of the surrounding terrain, which presented an ongoing threat of further ground collapse, thereby preventing rescue personnel from safely accessing the area where the driver was presumed to be located.
Over the intervening period, the dimensions of the sinkhole expanded considerably, reaching at least 40 meters in width, approximating the length of an Olympic-sized swimming pool.
The construction of a temporary slope eventually enabled rescuers to introduce heavy machinery into the cavity.
At the same time, a request was issued to 1.2 million local residents to temporarily reduce their water consumption for activities such as showering and laundry, a measure intended to minimize sewage leakage that could potentially impede the recovery operation. Local officials stated that protective walls were erected to enhance the safety of the rescue teams.
A representative for the local fire department announced on Friday the 2nd of May:
“We discovered a man inside the truck cabin and confirmed his death, then passed the incident to police.”
A spokesperson for the police department indicated that investigations are currently in progress, which include the formal identification of the recovered body.
In a statement released to Japanese media, a family member of the unnamed driver expressed profound grief, stating:
“Until the very end of his life, my father, who had a strong heart, must have been hoping to come home alive — fighting fear and pain — which makes me feel a tightening in my heart.”
The statement further conveyed the family’s disbelief and sorrow:
“I can’t believe or accept the fact that my father, who was loved by everyone, suddenly disappeared.”
Data from a land ministry investigation indicates a concerning trend of increasing sinkhole occurrences in Japan, surpassing 10,000 in fiscal year 2022.
A significant proportion of these incidents in urban areas are linked to issues with sewerage infrastructure.
A notable prior incident occurred in 2016 in the city of Fukuoka, where a substantial sinkhole, approximately 30 meters wide and 15 meters deep, opened up on a busy thoroughfare.
This event was attributed to nearby subway construction activities. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in that instance, and the affected street was reopened within a week following round-the-clock repair work.
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