**Rescue Efforts Intensify as Driver Remains Trapped in Expanding Sinkhole Near Tokyo**

A 74-year-old truck driver has been trapped for over two days in a sinkhole that formed north of Tokyo, after a sudden ground collapse. Efforts to rescue him have been complicated by unstable terrain and the growing size of the sinkhole.

The sinkhole incident occurred in Saitama Prefecture when the driver, who had stopped at an intersection, was engulfed by a rapidly forming hole. Initial reports indicated that he was responsive immediately after the accident, but subsequent mudslides buried the vehicle, making communication impossible. The situation became critical as the sinkhole’s diameter increased to about 65 feet due to the merging of another nearby hole, further obscuring the driver’s location and prompting concerns about the safety of the rescue operations.

Rescue teams are considering the deployment of heavy machinery to clear the debris, but officials warn of the dangers involved in navigating the unstable ground. A crane was successfully used to lift part of the truck’s bed, yet the driver remains missing. Local authorities reported that the sinkhole was caused by a burst sewer pipe beneath the road, leading to a directive for about 1.2 million residents in the vicinity to refrain from using water due to potential contamination issues. In response to the incident, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is conducting emergency inspections of similar infrastructure to prevent future incidents.