Sinkhole swallows Japan road

TOKYO – A huge and growing sinkhole appeared at dawn on Tuesday in Fukuoka City in southern Japan, triggering a power outage. The sinkhole near Hakata Station is about 30 metres long (98 ft), 27 metres (88 ft) wide, and 15 metres (49 ft) deep, Japanese media reported. Japanese news footage showed the hole swallowing an entire four-lane intersection, close to commercial buildings and shops. The prefectural government is investigating the possibility that the hole may have been caused by an ongoing construction to extend subway lines in the city, local media reported. City authorities are currently working to stop the expanding sinkhole, and are looking to fill the hole with earth as soon as possible to prevent nearby buildings from collapsing, Japanese media said. Local authorities also warned residents of a possible gas leak and told people not to light cigarettes. The local government also ordered an evacuation of the surrounding areas around the sinkhole earlier today, and the police have blocked off the area, local media said. –Reuters