Rescue Efforts Ongoing as Sinkhole Swallows Truck near Tokyo

A large sinkhole measuring approximately 10 meters wide and 5 to 6 meters deep opened in a busy intersection in Yashio City, Saitama Prefecture, near Tokyo, on Tuesday, swallowing a truck and trapping its driver inside. Rescue operations are ongoing, with responders managing to extract part of the truck using a crane, but the driver's cab remains in the hole, and the driver has reportedly lost consciousness. Local authorities suspect that a damaged sewer pipe from the nearby Nakagawa River Basin may have caused the sinkhole, leading to a hollow area under the road that eventually collapsed. Two rescue workers sustained minor injuries during the operation due to falling sediment. As the rescue efforts continue, officials are also concerned about the stability of the sinkhole, prompting evacuations in the vicinity due to potential underground gas line damage. The situation remains critical as crews work to safely retrieve the trapped driver and assess the damage.