Photo/Illutration Workers near the site of a second underground cavity at a road in Tokyo’s Chofu city. Photo was taken Nov. 22. (Ari Hirayama)

A second underground hollow space was discovered in Tokyo’s Chofu city that neighborhood residents strongly suspect is associated with underground tunnel work by an expressway operator, which urged those living nearby to evacuate if they were anxious.

East Nippon Expressway Co. on Nov. 22 announced a second hole was confirmed the day before. The company on Nov. 3 confirmed a similar underground cavity in the city's Higashi-Tsutsujigaoka district, where a portion of road caved in on Oct. 18.

The second cavity lies between 10 and 20 meters south of the cave-in and about four meters from the road surface. It is about 4 meters deep, 27 meters long and 3 meters wide.

Below the opening, heavy machinery was operating in September to bore a tunnel to construct the Tokyo outer ring road, the company said.

The cave-in prompted an investigation into whether the drilling work was responsible and led to the discovery of the two underground holes.

“We will examine whether the cave-in and the holes resulted from the work to dig a tunnel and will constantly monitor the ground surface for any changes using satellite surveillance,” the company said.

East Nippon Expressway late Nov. 21 urged residents living nearby to evacuate.

A man who lives in a house right next to the latest opening below the ground said a geological survey he ordered in 2003 before building his home found no problems to a depth of 5 meters from the ground surface.

However, a crack appeared on the outer wall of his home on Sept. 20, around the time drilling machinery passed under his house.

“It is obvious that the tunnel project caused the cavity,” he said. “Since I cannot live here safely, I must consider moving out.”

The man submitted a letter inquiring whether the company will purchase his land and house as compensation, in addition to seeking details about steps to be taken to fill in the hole, the materials that will be used and how long the work will take.

Haruyo Kikuchi, 65, who lives next door, said an official from East Nippon Expressway visited her on the evening of Nov. 21 to inform her that a hotel room had been arranged for her to stay in if she was anxious about remaining in her home.

Kikuchi is one of seven residents in the neighborhood who the company approached about the offer. Several hours later, the official returned to inform her of the latest cavity.

She called for an independent panel to be set up to look into what caused the cave-in and the holes.

“Our safety is no longer guaranteed here,” Kikuchi said. “The company should purchase my house at the market price it had before these incidents occurred because I am afraid it now has no value.”

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