Japan Sinkhole Grows to Almost Olympic Pool Length

The truck pulled out from a sinkhole is seen at the scene without its driver’s cabin, in Yashio, Saitama Prefecture, near Tokyo, Japan, 31 January 2025. EPA/FRANCK ROBICHON
The truck pulled out from a sinkhole is seen at the scene without its driver’s cabin, in Yashio, Saitama Prefecture, near Tokyo, Japan, 31 January 2025. EPA/FRANCK ROBICHON
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Japan Sinkhole Grows to Almost Olympic Pool Length

The truck pulled out from a sinkhole is seen at the scene without its driver’s cabin, in Yashio, Saitama Prefecture, near Tokyo, Japan, 31 January 2025. EPA/FRANCK ROBICHON
The truck pulled out from a sinkhole is seen at the scene without its driver’s cabin, in Yashio, Saitama Prefecture, near Tokyo, Japan, 31 January 2025. EPA/FRANCK ROBICHON

Emergency workers in Japan began building a ramp Friday to try and reach a 74-year-old truck driver who has not been heard from since his vehicle was swallowed by a sinkhole this week.

The cavity has expanded to 40 meters (130 feet) across, almost the length of an Olympic swimming pool, since opening up in a city just north of Tokyo on Tuesday morning, officials said.

The growing hole could be the result of corroded sewage pipes, according to authorities in Yashio.

"It is an extremely dangerous condition," local fire chief Tetsuji Sato told reporters on Thursday at the traffic intersection where dozens of rescuers have been working around the clock.

"We are planning to construct a slope (to access the hole) from a safer spot so that we will be able to send heavy equipment," AFP quoted him as saying.

He added that groundwater was leaking inside and that the hole was "continuing to cave in.”

No communication has been had with the driver since around midday Tuesday, with soil and other debris now covering the cabin of his lorry in Yashio.

The punctured pipes "potentially allowed the surrounding soil to flow in and the space under the ground to hollow out", Daisuke Tsutsui, a Saitama prefectural official, told AFP on Thursday.

Authorities hoped to complete the 30-metre slope on Friday, but a local official said it may take several days.

The operation has been aggravated by the inner walls of the hole -- now around 10 meters (30 feet) deep -- continuing to erode, preventing rescue workers from staying inside it for long.

Initially, the hole was around five meters in diameter but it has since combined with a much larger cavity that opened during the rescue operation on Tuesday night.

As the sinkhole has expanded, heavy chunks of asphalt have occasionally fallen in, preventing rescue workers from going near the chasm.

This has also made it dangerous to place heavy machinery nearby.

The 1.2 million people living in the area have been asked to cut back on showers and laundry to prevent leaking sewage from making the operation even more difficult.



Prophet's Mosque Welcomes More than 5 million Worshippers in One Week

 Multilingual communication services were utilized by 6,391 visitors from various countries - SPA
Multilingual communication services were utilized by 6,391 visitors from various countries - SPA
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Prophet's Mosque Welcomes More than 5 million Worshippers in One Week

 Multilingual communication services were utilized by 6,391 visitors from various countries - SPA
Multilingual communication services were utilized by 6,391 visitors from various countries - SPA

The Prophet's Mosque experienced a significant influx of 5,037,157 worshippers last week, with the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque ensuring a smooth flow of visitors and providing comprehensive services to cater to their needs.
A large number of visitors, totaling 607,591, greeted the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his two companions. Some 300,682 individuals performed prayers in the Holy Rawdah, where the authority enforced established crowd management procedures and visitation schedules to ensure order and accessibility, SPA reported.
The authority also focused on communication and hygiene. Multilingual communication services were utilized by 6,391 visitors from various countries, facilitating effective interaction and guidance. Extensive sterilization and disinfection efforts were carried out to maintain a high standard of hygiene, using 24,256 liters of disinfectant.
A substantial supply of Zamzam water of 1,370 tons was provided throughout the week, with 166 samples collected for testing and analysis. Furthermore, the authority facilitated the distribution of 219,227 iftar meals in designated areas within the mosque, providing convenient access to food for worshippers breaking their fast.