A giant sinkhole has swallowed a five-lane street in the centre of one of Japan's biggest cities.
A sinkhole, in the middle of a five-lane street in Fukuoka, appeared early on Tuesday. Photo: AFP
The collapse began about 5am local time (9am NZT) on Tuesday near Hakata Station, the busiest in Fukuoka on the southern island of Kyushu.
It began with two smaller holes that grew steadily until they formed one huge depression around 30m wide.
There were no reports of serious injuries but it disrupted power, water, gas and transport links in the area.
Broadcaster NHK reported that an elderly lady slipped on some stairs because of the power cut.
Engineering work to extend a nearby underground train line may be related to the sinkhole's sudden appearance, city officials said.
- BBC
Photo: AFP / The Yomiuri Shimbun
