Object found in pipe at Saitama sinkhole; local governments in Japan inspect sewage systems
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The sinkholes are believed to be due to a broken pipe under the road.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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TOKYO - An object was found on Feb 5 in a section of a sewage pipe downstream from the site of a sinkhole
It may be the driver’s seat of a truck that fell into the hole on Jan 28.
The object was found during an investigation of the sewage pipe using an underwater drone that began the previous day.
Local governments across Japan have also been conducting emergency inspections of sewage systems.
The Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism ministry requested the inspections as the sinkhole, which trapped a truck and its driver,
A total of about 19km of sewage pipes managed by the Tokyo metropolitan government are set to be inspected. The pipes are laid in nine cities, including Higashi-Kurume and Kiyose.
In Higashi-Kurume on Feb 4, inspection work was carried out on a pipe that runs under a street and has an internal diameter of more than 3m. Two workers entered the pipe through a manhole and checked for cracks and other damage.
The Yokohama city government has also begun inspecting about 20km of its 12,000km sewage pipe network, covering areas where there is a high risk of hydrogen sulfide forming, causing deterioration. A detailed investigation will be conducted if any abnormalities are detected.
On Feb 4, workers opened a manhole cover on a road in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture, and descended into a sewage pipe that carries rainwater. A small camera was used to check for corrosion, damage and sediment buildup.
A city official said: “Sewer pipes continue to deteriorate. We want to maintain a safe and secure sewer system while incorporating new technology.” THE JAPAN NEWS/ ASIA NEWS NETWORK
