Four men lost their lives recently during a routine sewer inspection. The tragedy unfolded in Gyoda City, located north of Tokyo in Saitama Prefecture. All four were workers performing a vital, yet often unseen, public service.
The local fire department shared details of the accident with AFP. It happened on a Saturday, specifically August 2nd. The men, all in their 50s, were checking a pipe. One worker fell into the sewer line. The other three immediately tried to help him.
Rescuers quickly arrived at the scene. They found a strong smell of hydrogen sulfide, also known as “rotten egg gas.” This gas is very poisonous. Officials, however, did not say what made the first man fall. It remains a mystery.
A Gyoda city official spoke about the incident but did not give a name. “We don’t know the exact details leading to this accident,” the official said. “It’s too early to discuss our responsibility.” About ten workers were on site before the accident. Their job was to clean the sewer pipes and remove any sludge.
All four injured workers were pulled from the pipe. They were rushed to a hospital. Sadly, all of them passed away there. This terrible event highlights the dangers many workers face every day. They go into hidden parts of our world to keep things running.
This accident comes just months after another infrastructure problem near Tokyo. In January, a large sinkhole opened up. It swallowed a truck driver. This was caused by a rotting sewer pipe. That incident led to nationwide checks of sewer systems. In May, rescuers found the body of the 74-year-old truck driver. He had been missing for months after the road collapsed in Yashio City, also in Saitama Prefecture. These events remind us that the unseen networks beneath our cities need constant care, and the people who tend to them deserve our deepest respect.