The fatal event took place in the city of Gyoda on Saturday when one worker mysteriously fell into the manhole. In an attempt to rescue their colleague, three others also fell in. Despite efforts to recover them, they were pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital, as reported by local media.
The deceased were part of a nationwide survey team consisting of at least seven workers tasked with inspecting and cleaning the sewage pipes if necessary.
Image: The Yomiuri Shimbun/AP Photo/picture alliance
Cause of the Tragedy
Rescue teams detected the presence of hydrogen sulfide, a gas known to be highly toxic at high concentrations, emerging from the manhole. This information was provided by the fire department which also speculated that the workers might have inhaled the lethal gas.
Law enforcement in the area had also identified hydrogen sulfide as part of their investigation, suggesting that this could have been a significant contributing factor. However, the city has yet to confirm this suspicion.
A representative from Gyoda city, speaking to AFP on the condition of anonymity, stated that the precise circumstances leading to the accident remain unknown, and it is too early to comment on any possible responsibility.
This content was edited by Darko Janjevic.
