Saitama Sinkhole an Urgent Call to Address Aging Infrastructure

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The national government and all local governments that manage roads and sewerage systems must take the issue of deteriorating infrastructure seriously and act quickly. The ongoing drama of the collapse of a prefectural road in Yashio City, Saitama Prefecture, drives that point home. The collapse formed a massive sinkhole that swallowed up a truck and its still-missing driver.

As of the time of publication, the outlook for rescue and restoration efforts at that disaster site remains unclear.

A January Disaster

The disaster occurred on January 28, when a highway intersection suddenly caved in, creating a giant sinkhole. An underground sewer pipe apparently corroded. This caused soil and sand to flow into the cavity under the road which, in turn, caused the collapse.

Something resembling the driver's seat of the truck that had fallen into the hole was found downstream inside the sewer pipe. However, the whereabouts of the driver remain unknown. It was a truly tragic accident.

The search is proving difficult amid fears of secondary collapses. Therefore, it will likely take quite some time to correct the situation. Residents in the surrounding neighborhoods continue to face inconveniences due to evacuations and water-saving measures.

*An aerial view of the sinkhole in Saitama Prefecture on the morning of February 6. (Courtesy of Yashio City, Saitama Prefecture)*

Deteriorating Infrastructure

In this specific area, the sewer pipes have been in use for 42 years and are inspected every five years. During the inspection in FY2021, some corrosion was discovered. Nevertheless, it was determined that no immediate repairs were necessary.

Road collapses caused by aging sewer pipes have been occurring one after another in various locations. Saitama Prefecture is establishing a third-party committee to investigate the causes of this accident. It will look into such things as the causal relationship with deterioration, as well as construction and management methods.

It is also imperative to determine whether inspections have been adequate. We would like to see a thorough investigation into the causes and implementation of countermeasures.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has ordered emergency inspections in seven prefectures. All of them manage large sewer pipes similar to the one in Saitama. A nationwide inspection, including other sewer pipes, should also be carried out.

The deterioration of infrastructure features constructed in large volume during Japan's period of rapid economic growth is a grave issue nationwide. Many facilities have generally reached the end of their 50-year service life. This is evident from accidents resulting in damage, collapse, and so on, which have become commonplace.

*Cranes and other equipment working on the sinkhole. (Courtesy of Yashio City, Saitama Prefecture)*

Urgency in Addressing Aging Infrastructure

About 7% of sewer pipes nationwide had already exceeded their service life by the end of FY2012. That figure is expected to jump to 40% within 20 years. Roads, bridges, tunnels, and other infrastructure also face similar challenges.

Local governments are forced to conduct a tremendous volume of inspections and repairs. However, due to financial difficulties and a lack of personnel, progress is slower than expected.

Meanwhile, drones and artificial intelligence (AI) in rescue work are becoming more widespread. However, the public and private sectors must work together to accelerate the development of even more efficient inspection methods. The infrastructure that supports society and the economy is after all the foundation of a nation.

As we enter an era of seriously aging infrastructure, the national government needs to accelerate its strategy of supporting local governments. Furthermore, it must advance the technology available to address these needs.

Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun

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