Some residents near Saitama sinkhole that swallowed a man asked to evacuate
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The sinkhole, which was initially about 10m in diameter, expanded as a result of cave-ins, and is now about 40m wide.
PHOTO: AFP
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YASHIO, Saitama - Feb 11 marked two weeks since a truck fell into a sinkhole on a Japanese prefectural road
As the search for the truck driver, 74, is facing difficulty, the impact of the accident on the lives of the residents is becoming prolonged.
The prefecture is asking nearby households to evacuate, fearing more cave-ins, and about 1.2 million people living in 12 municipalities in the prefecture
The accident occurred on the morning of Jan 28, as the sinkhole opened near the middle of an intersection.
The sinkhole, which was initially about 10m in diameter, expanded as a result of cave-ins, and is now about 40m wide, with its edge close to houses.
As cave-ins might continue to occur, 11 people from five households have evacuated to shelters as of Feb 10.
Underground cables were cut as a result of the cave-ins, causing telecommunication issues in the neighbourhood, including about 400 phone lines being disconnected.
As water coming through the pipes hinders search activities, the prefectural authorities have requested local residents and businesses to cut back on their water usage.
A ryokan, or Japanese-style inn, in Hasuda is currently not serving meals to its guests in order to reduce its water usage.
“Some guests cancelled their reservations because we aren’t providing any meals,” said the inn’s manager. “But I’d like to help by doing what little I can.” THE JAPAN NEWS/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
