Rescuers building ramp to reach 74-year-old trapped in sinkholeーNHK WORLD-JAPAN NEWS #shorts

Rescuers near Tokyo are in a race against time to save a 74-year-old truck driver who has been trapped in a sinkhole for nearly three days.

They are building an earthen ramp into the sinkhole and are preparing for a full-fledged search for the driver.

Firefighters on Thursday started forming the ramp that would enable heavy machinery to clear away the soil, which is mixed with structural debris and other rubble. They expect to complete the 4×30-meter ramp within a few days.

A road in Yashio City suddenly caved in on Tuesday and a truck fell into the sinkhole. Rescue operations were complicated when another cave-in appeared nearby. The two sinkholes later merged and expanded into a depression about 20 meters in diameter. Firefighters have been unable to contact the driver since Tuesday afternoon.

Prefectural officials believe the first cave-in was caused by a ruptured sewage pipe roughly 10 meters underground.
Intermittent collapses continue within the merged depression.

The officials are also working to prevent rainwater from flowing into the hole. Firefighters say these efforts will allow them to conduct a thorough search for the driver.

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