Osaka Pipe Rises 32 Feet

An underground steel pipe unexpectedly rose over 32 feet from a sewer construction site in Osaka, Japan, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, causing traffic congestion and scattering concrete debris. The 11.5-foot diameter pipe, part of a sewer connection project, reached a height of 42 feet, forcing road closures. City officials speculate that draining water from the pipe, which was acting as a retaining structure, may have caused it to float upwards. No injuries were reported. By Thursday, firefighters had lowered the pipe by cutting a hole and injecting water, reducing its visible height to several feet. Authorities plan to cut the remaining 5.2 feet, necessitating further road closures.