Japanese authorities have asked hundreds of residents near Tokyo to evacuate as a sinkhole at an intersection grew to more than 40 meters wide, hampering rescuers racing to reach an elderly truck driver whose vehicle was swallowed by the hole.

A truck driver has spent more than 24 hours trapped under a Japan sinkhole that swallowed his vehicle in the greater Tokyo area.

The driver was able to talk with rescuers but they retreated after the area around the hole became unstable, a spokesperson said.