February 5 marks the eighth day since a massive sinkhole formed in Yashio, Saitama Prefecture.

The search for the driver of a truck left stranded after it fell into the sinkhole on January 28 is proving difficult, with sewage believed to have flowed out into the hole.

There is still no prospect of a full-scale search for the truck driver due to the risk of the concrete pipe collapsing.

Saitama Prefecture is aiming to complete a second ramp this morning, but there is a risk of the concrete pipe collapsing and its removal is being carefully carried out first.

The search for the driver remains uncertain as it will only be conducted after a safety check of the scene by experts and others.

To reduce the amount of sewage that continues to overflow in the boreholes, the prefecture is calling on surrounding communities to reduce the frequency of washing and bathing.