Saitama Sinkhole Search: Bypass System Underway

The search for a 74-year-old truck driver, whose vehicle fell into a sinkhole in Yashio, Saitama Prefecture on January 28, continues primarily through an underground sewage pipe. Initial search efforts at the sinkhole site have been halted due to safety concerns of further collapse and high hydrogen sulfide levels. The truck cabin was located approximately 100-200 meters from the sinkhole, suggesting the driver may be inside. Rescue operations now focus on building a bypass system to divert sewage water and using excavators to access the cabin. Despite the challenging conditions, authorities estimate it may take up to three months to safely retrieve the driver. Monitoring of the situation is ongoing with authorities using small holes to observe conditions within the sewage pipe.