Driver stuck in sinkhole in Japan: ramp built

Rescuers carried out the operation as the hole - now the length of an Olympic swimming pool - has been growing since it opened on Tuesday in the city of Yashio, on the outskirts of Tokyo.

"We have just completed work on the ramp," Saitama regional governor Motohiro Ono told reporters.

Rescuers will use the 30-metre ramp to lower heavy equipment into the chasm.

"We will clean up the debris and rescue the driver as quickly as possible," Ono said.

Earth and debris covering the 74-year-old driver's cabin have prevented any communication with him since Tuesday midday.

Leaks of groundwater into the sinkhole had been largely stopped by Saturday, public broadcaster NHK said.

According to the media, the erosion of the walls of the chasm prevents rescuers from staying there for long.

The hole was originally about 5 meters in diameter but it grew larger by merging with another cavity.

Heavy chunks of asphalt fell inside, making it difficult for rescuers and heavy machinery to approach.

To prevent sewage leaks from hampering the rescue, the 1,2 million people living in the area have been asked to limit showers and laundry.

According to local media, about 2.600 road collapse cases in 2022 were caused by sewer pipes. Most were small, with a depth of 50 centimeters or less.

In 2016, a giant sinkhole about 30 meters wide and 15 meters deep appeared on a busy street in Fukuoka City, caused by the construction of a nearby subway.

No one was injured and the street had reopened after a week of non-stop work.