2-week search ends for trapped driver inside sinkhole in Saitama

Rest in Peace to this hard working 74 year old man, still doing an honest day's work to support himself at his age. Tragic.

The prefectural government has said the man could be somewhere in the sewage pipe after what appears to be a truck's cabin was found in the pipe 

That is a truly horrible way to go.

That is a truly horrible way to go.

Agree.

Frustrating to see such bungled rescue efforts.

The appropriate authorities might consider introducing rapid-response rescue into training — because we are certain this fellow was alive and visible for multiple hours after this incident first occurred.

Really sad. RIP.

I hope he went quickly and there are lessons learned about how to enact such a rescue in the future.

It's strange how family members of the deceased aren't seen on T.V. here in Japan. In the U.S. family members would be pressuring the rescue team to try to do more and would be on every media outlet as possible. I wonder if kids were involved the rescue team would have taken more risks to save lives. Just a thought. Regardless, RIP.

That’s horrible.

he was obviously there, where did he go?

Bobby Franks

Frustrating to see such bungled rescue efforts.

How do you know they were bungled? Perhaps they should have called you? A professional in this field?

family members would be pressuring the rescue team to try to do more and would be on every media outlet as possible.

Like the family member kidnapped by North Korea?

The appropriate authorities might consider introducing rapid-response rescue into training 

Yes, way too slow. It only a few meters deep not 100 meters.

Frustrating to see such bungled rescue efforts.

there are lessons learned about how to enact such a rescue in the future.

The usual whiners, why didn't go and do something??.. Lsrs..

What a real shame. If the cab’s gone down the pipe it looks like he was washed even further. Maybe he can be found later using cctv? The hole is 40 metres wide now, they have to secure the surrounding properties.

Too easy to say the rescue efforts weren’t enough. It was a very risky situation, the emergency services really tried, they can’t be expected to die in the process.

Maybe he can be found later using cctv?

Not to be too disrespectful to the family, the body might be in a state of decomposition by then, plus being in water or wet environment would macerate it.

And you're right. Way too easy to criticize the rescuers from behind a keyboard or a phone, when we're still in winter, the sinkhole being very unstable and why risk rescuers' lives?

RIP. Such an awful way to go.

Seems they just needed to throw down a rope. Fly in a drone. Throw in a dog. Fly in a helicopter with a life saving man attached. Pull up the truck in one piece. Things like that.

The poor guy just can't get a break. Drives into a sink hole then drowns in a sewer pipe.

IMO, They should use some drones and autonomous vehicles. His family needs closure, speedy search and the rescue effort needs to be safe too.

Anyone who has done cave diving knows how hard it is swim against a current of water; add to that disorientation in the dark, possible shock, injury or concussion from the accident, wearing heavy working clothes that are cold and quickly water-soaked. The outcome is inevitable. Just hope it was quick. RIP driver.

What a tragedy, and without closure to the deceased family.

Using a search and rescue helicopter, they could've lifted him and/or the truck out in the first few hours.

towingtheline

Using a search and rescue helicopter, they could've lifted him and/or the truck out in the first few hours.

No they could not. It is quite astonishing seeing armchair experts here giving simplistic advice on an extremely complex situation.

wanderlust...

Anyone who has done cave diving knows how hard it is swim against a current of water;

Anyone who has done cave diving or is thinking about it needs to re-evaluate their life choices. A simple risk/reward analysis is all that is necessary. Risk... death/ Reward... get to see some muddy cave walls.

"search ends" missing person, It's like at mountain or sea or coal mine.

who brought such a risk to the center of population area is LDP politics who neglects to even important infrastructure for daily life of citizen.

Ali Azuuri, by their very nature, sewers are only installed in populated areas. Think it through fella.