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- Massive sinkhole swallows truck, trapping driver inside (newsbreak.com)
Yashio City, Saitama, Japan – A truck driver was trapped for hours after his lorry plunged into a large sinkhole Tuesday morning. The incident occurred around 9:50 a.m. local time. Emergency crews received calls reporting a road collapse and a truck falling into the resulting chasm.
Rescue efforts were hampered by the size and instability of the sinkhole, estimated to be roughly the size of a swimming pool at approximately 33 feet wide and 20 feet deep. A crane was brought in to attempt to pull the truck out, but concerns about further collapse made the operation precarious.
The driver was able to communicate with rescuers initially, but contact was lost around 1:00 p.m. as the ground around the sinkhole became increasingly unstable. Two rescue workers sustained minor injuries during earlier rescue attempts.
Authorities believe a nearby sewer system may be connected to the road collapse. A full investigation is underway. This incident recalls similar events, such as a 2016 sinkhole in Hakata, Japan, and another in Seoul, South Korea last year where an SUV was swallowed.
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- Massive sinkhole swallows truck, trapping driver inside (newsbreak.com)