Japanese region asks 1.2 million people to use less water to help sinkhole rescue

This photo shows a general view of a collapsed road at a prefectural road intersection, in the city of Yashio, Saitama Prefecture on 30 January 2025 - (JIJI Press/AFP via Getty Images)

Efforts to rescue a 74-year-old driver continued on Thursday, days after a massive sinkhole in the Japanese city of Yashio swallowed up his truck.

Japanese authorities have asked 1.2 million people across 12 cities and towns in the eastern part of Saitama prefecture to limit showers and laundry use and thereby ease the pressure on the sewer system.