Three new sewer pipe corrosion sites in Saitama Prefecture north of Tokyo were discovered in an emergency sewer pipe inspection conducted nationwide.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism called for an emergency inspection in the seven prefectures with large sewer pipes, similar to the one that caused an accident in Yashio, Saitama Prefecture last month.

The seven prefectures included in the inspection are Saitama, Chiba, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Osaka, Hyogo, and Nara. 

Abnormalities were not found in six prefectures including Tokyo and Osaka, but three new abnormalities were found within Saitama Prefecture.

One location had a damaged pipeline and two had corrosion inside the manhole.

Cavities caused by sewer pipes were not found in the nationwide inspection.

However, cavities not caused by sewer pipe damage were found and require urgent repair work. 

Two such sites were found in both Saitama and Nara prefectures, as well as one site each in Tokyo and Kanagawa Prefecture.

The ministry will establish a committee on February 21 to discuss inspection methods and inspection frequency.