Four Workers Die in Sewer Inspection Accident Near Tokyo

Four workers in their 50s died after falling into a sewer manhole during a pipe inspection in Gyoda, Saitama Prefecture, north of Tokyo, on August 2. The first worker fell into the approximately 12 to 15-meter-deep manhole, and the other three fell in while attempting to rescue him. Hydrogen sulfide gas, a highly toxic substance, was detected at the site, potentially contributing to the tragedy. All four were transported to the hospital but were confirmed dead. This inspection was part of a nationwide effort to address aging sewer infrastructure following a major sinkhole incident in January that swallowed a truck and its driver in nearby Yashio, whose body was recovered months later. The incident underscores the dangers faced by workers maintaining critical, yet often overlooked, urban infrastructure.