Swimming pool-sized sinkhole swallows truck in Japan, trapping driver inside
NBCJAN 25
Japan: Truck Falls Into Swimming Pool-Sized Sinkhole
Above: Rescue operations continue for a truck driver who fell into a sinkhole at a prefectural road intersection in the city of Yashio, Saitama Prefecture, on Jan. 29, 2025. Image copyright: STR/Contributor/JIJI Press/AFP via Getty Images
The Facts
A massive sinkhole suddenly appeared at an intersection in Yashio City, Saitama Prefecture, near Tokyo on Tuesday morning at approximately 9:50 am local time, swallowing a two-ton truck with its 74-year-old driver inside.
The initial sinkhole, likely caused by a ruptured underground sewage pipe, measured approximately 33 feet (10 meters) wide and 16 feet (5 meters) deep. It was later joined by a second sinkhole that formed Thursday, creating an even larger crater measuring about 65 feet (20 meters) wide.
Rescue workers communicated with the trapped driver Tuesday afternoon. However, contact was ultimately lost, and rising water levels submerged the driver's cabin, complicating rescue efforts.
The Spin
Narrative A
This shocking infrastructure failure highlights a critical oversight in urban maintenance in Japan. Routine inspections conducted in 2021 detected corrosion but didn't flag it as an urgent issue — leading to this catastrophic collapse that has disrupted the lives of over a million residents.
Narrative B
The criticism is uncalled for when the emergency response team has demonstrated remarkable dedication and resourcefulness in this tragedy. It has implemented innovative solutions such as chlorine-treated wastewater discharge and careful deployment of heavy machinery while prioritizing both the driver's rescue and public safety.
Metaculus Prediction
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