Overview

• The sinkhole in Yashio, Saitama Prefecture, first opened on January 28, swallowing a truck and trapping its 74-year-old driver.
• Rescuers discovered the body inside the truck cabin on May 2, following months of stabilization efforts to ensure safety at the site.
• The sinkhole, caused by corroded sewer pipes, expanded to 40 meters wide and 15 meters deep during the recovery process.
• Technical challenges included high water flow, hazardous gases, and constructing bypass pipes and access ramps to stabilize the area.
• Authorities continue investigating the collapse, which highlights Japan's growing issue with aging urban infrastructure and rising sinkhole incidents.