HOKKAIDO – A section of ceiling at a Hokkaido Shinkansen tunnel excavation site in Otaru, Hokkaido, collapsed, causing soil and debris to pour in.
Workers found the collapse of the Sasson Tunnel located about 200m underground in a forested area of Otaru at about 7pm (6pm Singapore time) on April 6.
There were no injuries to workers or damage to heavy machinery.
The Japan Railway Construction, Transport and Technology Agency, which is overseeing the project, has suspended excavation work and is investigating the cause.
At the construction site, workers were removing excavated soil from the tunnel.
There is a possibility that the ground near the site has subsided, so the authorities plan to conduct an aerial survey using drones.
There is currently no timeline for resuming construction.
Construction is under way to extend the Hokkaido Shinkansen from Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto in Hokuto to Sapporo. The Sasson Tunnel is part of the extension. THE JAPAN NEWS/ ASIA NEWS NETWORK
AloJapan.com