The Japan sinkhole truck driver who went missing after his vehicle was swallowed by a massive sinkhole has reportedly been found deceased nearly three months later.
On Friday, May 2, emergency responders confirmed they had discovered a body believed to be the 74-year-old man inside the cabin of his truck, which had been engulfed by the enormous sinkhole in Yashio, Saitama, back on January 28. A police investigation is currently underway to officially identify the remains.
Japan sinkhole truck driver tragedy and collapse details
The Japan sinkhole truck driver was last heard speaking to rescuers around 1 p.m. on the day the incident occurred, during the busy morning commute. The massive crater, caused by aging sewage infrastructure, rapidly expanded—eventually stretching over 131 feet wide and plunging nearly 50 feet deep.
As the sinkhole widened, rescue operations became more hazardous. Over a million residents were advised to minimize water usage, including showers and laundry, to help prevent leaking wastewater from worsening the already dangerous conditions.
Heavy machinery was gradually lowered into the site via a makeshift ramp, and retaining walls were installed to protect rescue workers. Despite their best efforts, authorities had to suspend the search on February 9 due to the growing risk of another collapse.
Japan sinkhole truck driver remembered by family
The discovery was made on Thursday, May 1, when recovery teams entered the sinkhole for the first time since the suspension. They were checking for gas leaks and water movement when they found the truck with the deceased man still inside.
A family member of the Japan sinkhole truck driver expressed heartbreak, saying, “Until his last moments, my father must have clung to hope, enduring fear and pain. It breaks my heart to imagine his suffering.” They added, “It’s hard to accept that someone so loved simply vanished.”
The incident has drawn renewed attention to Japan’s infrastructure issues, particularly the increasing number of sinkholes, which reportedly surpassed 10,000 cases in the 2022 fiscal year.
Table of Contents
Source: www.people.com
