Japan tries to rescue man stuck in sinkhole. Here's what's going on.

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TOKYO (AP) — A truck that slid into a sinkhole that suddenly appeared on a road near Tokyo has grabbed the country's attention as efforts to rescue the elderly driver continue. Neighbors near the hole have taken refuge at a nearby school, and concerns were mounting on Thursday about flash flooding and water from a sewage system leaking into the area. Ongoing debate is pressing Japan's need for upgraded infrastructure, particularly in regards to its aging systems.

What happened?

After a sinkhole appeared in Yashio City, located northeast of Tokyo, on Tuesday morning, a 3-ton truck slipped into it. Initially, the sinkhole was roughly 10 meters (33 feet) wide and 5 meters (16 feet) deep, but it has expanded to almost double that size since its appearance.

What about the driver?

A 74-year-old man is thought to be trapped inside the cabin of a flatbed truck. He was reportedly conscious and communicating with rescue workers earlier but has not responded since Tuesday afternoon, according to Yashio fire department official Yoshifumi Hashiguchi.

What caused the sinkhole?

A Saitama prefecture water system official, Jun Uehara, said the hole likely caused by constant strong acidic flow might have eroded a pipe, enabling soil above it to collapse into a large empty space surrounding the road.

The recent visual inspection of the pipe, which is scheduled every five years, didn't reveal any issues. However, water from the damaged pipe may also lead to flooding problems.

Why is the rescue mission still ongoing?

The unstable ground with an empty space beneath it is making the rescue efforts challenging. Video footage from television shows the asphalt road cracking and collapsing into the sinkhole, knocking down signposts. Authorities attempted to lift the driver's truck with cranes in an effort to rescue him, but were only able to recover the platform in the back, leaving the driver's cabin still trapped. Authorities have also tried, without success, to remove debris and dig out the driver. Additionally, they deployed a drone into the sinkhole to see if rescue teams can safely descend, but progress has not been made yet.

What about the neighbors?

Residents are being asked to reduce their water consumption. Sections of the road are shut down. Additionally, there is some uncertainty regarding the duration of these operations.

About 20 residents living within a 200-meter radius of the sinkhole took shelter at a local junior high school on Thursday, according to the city.

In the Japanese prefecture of Saitama, over one million residents, particularly those living near areas where treated sewage is directed through pipes, have been asked to reduce their laundry and bathing activities to prevent sewage from overflowing into a sinkhole that has formed in the area. To mitigate the situation, officials have also initiated a measure to divert and treat sewage flowing from an upstream pumping station before releasing it into a nearby river, according to Uehara.

What's next?

When the driver is removed, experts will enter the sinkhole and inspect the sewage system.

The Land, Infrastructure and Transport Ministry has launched a nationwide inspection of sewer systems. In one of the world's most disaster-prone countries, the sinkhole has raised concerns about aging infrastructure.

Much of Japan's main public infrastructure was constructed during the country's period of rapid economic growth from the 1960s to the 1970s. The sewage pipe in Yashiro is approximately 40 years old.