A section of road in the centre of a Japanese city was fixed in days, and has reopened to traffic just one week after it collapsed into a gaping sinkhole.

In the early hours of Tuesday, Nov. 8, a massive sinkhole opened up in Fukuoka, Japan, swallowing part of the road near the city’s railway station, and threatening to bring down nearby buildings.

There were no reports of injuries, but the incident caused power cuts and disrupted phone signals, as well as gas and water supplies.

Despite the sinkhole, which measured 30 metres long by 27 metres wide by 15 metres deep, it didn’t take long to fix.

In a show of incredible workmanship and efficiency, Japanese workers took just two days to fill in the hole and repair the road, according to local media. After testing to make sure the fix is safe, the road has reopened to traffic and pedestrian just one week after the collapse.

People around the world were astonished at the speedy repair.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The road reopened to traffic and pedestrians Tuesday, after local officials announced the repaired area was safe.

The short repair time was credited in part to the special type of soil that was used to fill it. The soil, which is typically used for caved-in coal mines, is mixed with cement and water and solidifies easily. It also remains solid, even in water.

Fukuoka’s Mayor, Soichiro Takashima, told reporters Monday the ground is now 30 times stronger than before and said local government wants a third-party panel to investigate the cause of the sinkhole.

Local media have suggested that underground construction work to extend the city’s subway line may have caused the collapse.