Giant sinkhole swallowed road in Japan repaired in a week

Left, the sinkhole and right, the road after restoration, in Fukuoka, southern Japan. Photo / AP

While motorists around the world endure the misery of pothole damage, authorities in Japan have given a lesson in efficiency - by fixing a huge sinkhole in just one week.

The gaping chasm measured around 30 metres wide and 15 metres deep, yet now the road is completely reopened.

Many people have expressed their amazement at the fast repair work.

Construction teams in Fukuoka, in the southwest of the country, worked around the clock, dumping huge amounts of wet cement and sand into the huge hole and fixing electricity, gas and water lines.

It is thought the road collapsed because subway construction exposed support columns of nearby buildings.

The city's mayor, Soichiro Takashima, said in a statement: "We're very sorry for causing great trouble."

Miraculously, no one was hurt when the road collapsed in Fukuoka, which is the biggest city on the southernmost main island of Kyushu.

Many on social media expressed amazement at the quick recovery.

"I'm surprised the road reopened in a week!" one Twitter user said.

"Impressive. That was fast," said another.

The street reopened at 5am on Tuesday.

A massive shinkhole in the middle of the business district in Fukuoka, southern Japan. Photo / AP

The massive cave-in appeared in the city's bustling Hakata district, a major business and entertainment centre, with muddy underground water flowing into the hole.

"I saw a stop light fall. It was really scary," one man told Fuji TV after it happened.

The sinkhole is believed to be about 40 feet wide and 25-30 feet deep.