In brief
Rescue teams in Japan are grappling with unstable ground conditions while trying to free a truck driver who has been missing for over two days after a sinkhole swallowed him and his vehicle.
Rescue operations are underway in Saitama Prefecture, just north of Tokyo, where a 74-year-old truck driver fell into a massive sinkhole. This incident happened Tuesday when the ground unexpectedly caved beneath him while stopped at an intersection. He initially responded to rescuers, but a mudslide soon buried him further into the debris. Efforts to reach the driver are complicated as the sinkhole has expanded to around 65 feet due to a second nearby collapse. Officials have warned that the area is dangerous and heavy machinery may be required to remove the surrounding dirt. Local authorities have linked the collapse to a burst sewer pipe, affecting water usage for 1.2 million residents nearby. The incident has prompted reviews of other similar infrastructures across Japan.
