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Iwate cops: Man dies after being buried alive inside sand storage tank

A male worker was buried alive and killed while working alone inside a sand storage tank (TV Asahi)
A male worker was buried alive and killed while working alone inside a sand storage tank (TV Asahi)

IWATE (TR) – A male worker died after he was buried alive while working alone inside a sand storage tank at a concrete factory in Kitakami City on Saturday, police said.

According to Iwate Prefectural Police, Hiroyuki Sato, 37, was breaking up hardened sand alone inside an 8-meter-tall storage tank when his footing gave way and buried him alive at around 3 p.m., according to Iwate Broadcasting (Apr. 30).

Sato was rescued in an unconscious state about 2.5 hours later by authorities and transported to a hospital, where his death was confirmed.

Police are questioning his colleagues and investigating the circumstances of the incident.