An accident occurred where a train struck four workers removing weeds from the tracks at Shin-Kanuma Station in Tochigi Prefecture, north of Tokyo, Japan, this morning (20 Aug). All workers died in the incident, which has drawn attention since Japan is known for its high railway safety standards and fatal train accidents are rare.
The incident happened at approximately 10:45 a.m. local time near Shin-Kanuma Station on the Tobu Nikko railway line. Police and railway operators reported that four male workers were weeding on the tracks as the express train "Spacia EX" was approaching the station.
Officials received an emergency call at 10:47 a.m. reporting that workers had been struck by the train. Reports stated the train was slowing down to stop at the station when the accident occurred.
Firefighters said that out of the four workers, three were trapped under the train while one was on the platform. Rescue teams rushed to assist and transported the victims to hospital, but all were unconscious and later confirmed dead.
Local reports stated that the four workers were men aged approximately 50 to 60 years. At the time, at least seven workers were operating in the area. Authorities are investigating why these four were on the tracks as the train was entering the station.
Police and the train operating company are examining the details of the accident, including safety procedures for working on tracks and the signaling or warning systems used before trains enter work zones.
The train involved was the Spacia EX 2 express heading toward Tokyo, bound for Asakusa Station. No injuries were reported among passengers or crew aboard the train during the incident.
As a result, train services on the Tobu Nikko line were temporarily suspended in both directions between Shin-Tochigi and Shimo-Imaichi stations to allow authorities to investigate and conduct rescue operations. Service is expected to resume in the afternoon.
This incident has attracted considerable attention because Japan's railway system is internationally recognized for its high safety standards, regular maintenance, staff training, and advanced technology—especially the Shinkansen bullet trains, which have an outstanding safety record with no passenger fatalities from derailments or collisions in their history.
Japanese authorities continue to investigate the cause of the accident and the protective measures for workers operating on railway tracks to determine why this tragic event occurred at a station where trains were arriving at the platform.
. news.yahoo.co.jp/TBS/AFP