TOKYO, Jan 30, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Japanese authorities have asked 1.2 million
people to cut back on showers and laundry to prevent leaking sewage
aggravating an operation to rescue a truck driver in a sinkhole.

The hole suddenly opened up in Yashio during the morning rush hour on
Tuesday, swallowing the lorry.

Rescue efforts have been severely hampered by unstable ground around the hole
and a second, larger hole appearing. Water has also been seeping in.

"Putting our first priority on saving the person's life, we are asking
residents to refrain from non-essential use of water such as taking a bath or
doing laundry," a Saitama prefecture official told AFP on Thursday.

"Using toilets is difficult to refrain from, but we are asking to use less
water as much as possible."

In a statement sent to the roughly 1.2 million residents, the prefecture
asked them to "please continue to refrain from sewage as polluted water may
overflow".

"As the rescue work is facing difficulties, it will likely take time to
restore" the sewage system, it said.

Some sewage water in the area was collected and released to a nearby river
Wednesday.

No contact has been had with the 74-year-old truck driver since around 1:00
pm (0400 GMT) Tuesday and rescuers have been working around the clock to
reach him.

The initial sinkhole, estimated at about 10 metres wide and six metres deep
(33 feet by 20 feet), has since merged with another.

"At around 2:30 am (on Thursday), the two holes became one, and with risk of
another landslide or collapse of roads, we've been unable to use heavy
machinery," a fire department official told AFP.