A 74-year-old truck driver has been trapped in a sinkhole in Japan for three days, with rescue efforts complicated by the expanding hole and leaking water and gas pipes.

The sinkhole, which formed on Tuesday near Tokyo, swallowed the driver and his two-ton truck.

A 30-meter ramp is being constructed to reach him, but the operation is slow due to dangerous conditions and erosion.

The driver has not been heard from since Tuesday afternoon, and concerns are growing for his survival.

Nearby residents have been evacuated, and water usage has been restricted to minimize further hazards, The Guardian has reported.

The rescue could take several more days.

Written by B.C. Begley