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Japan Sasago tunnel collapse killed nine | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Nine people are now confirmed to have died after a major tunnel collapsed in Japan, officials say. | Nine people are now confirmed to have died after a major tunnel collapsed in Japan, officials say. |
The bodies were found in three vehicles that were crushed by fallen concrete panels in the Sasago tunnel, about 80km (50 miles) west of the capital Tokyo. | The bodies were found in three vehicles that were crushed by fallen concrete panels in the Sasago tunnel, about 80km (50 miles) west of the capital Tokyo. |
A fire broke out after the tunnel caved in on Sunday, and a number of survivors fled to safety on foot. | A fire broke out after the tunnel caved in on Sunday, and a number of survivors fled to safety on foot. |
The usually busy tunnel remains closed, as police are investigating potential negligence. | The usually busy tunnel remains closed, as police are investigating potential negligence. |
There will be serious questions about how a major tunnel on one of Japan's most important traffic arteries could have failed so catastrophically, the BBC's Rupert Wingfield Hayes in Tokyo reports. | There will be serious questions about how a major tunnel on one of Japan's most important traffic arteries could have failed so catastrophically, the BBC's Rupert Wingfield Hayes in Tokyo reports. |
The private company that runs the highway has said the tunnel was given a major inspection just two months ago and was given a clean bill of health, our correspondent adds. | The private company that runs the highway has said the tunnel was given a major inspection just two months ago and was given a clean bill of health, our correspondent adds. |
Survivors' stories | Survivors' stories |
Emergency workers said that five bodies were recovered from a van early on Monday. They were identified as three men and two women, all in their twenties and from Tokyo, Kyodo news agency reported. | Emergency workers said that five bodies were recovered from a van early on Monday. They were identified as three men and two women, all in their twenties and from Tokyo, Kyodo news agency reported. |
Another woman, aged 28, who had been in the vehicle survived. | Another woman, aged 28, who had been in the vehicle survived. |
Three bodies were found in a car and another body in a lorry. | Three bodies were found in a car and another body in a lorry. |
The driver of the lorry had reportedly telephoned for help from inside the 4.3km (2.7 miles) twin-bore tunnel - one of the longest in Japan. | The driver of the lorry had reportedly telephoned for help from inside the 4.3km (2.7 miles) twin-bore tunnel - one of the longest in Japan. |
Part of the tunnel collapsed at 08:00 local time (23:00 GMT Saturday). | Part of the tunnel collapsed at 08:00 local time (23:00 GMT Saturday). |
Thick black smoke was seen billowing from the tunnel, hampering rescue efforts. | Thick black smoke was seen billowing from the tunnel, hampering rescue efforts. |
Pictures from closed circuit TV cameras inside the tunnel later showed a section of up to 100m (328ft) that had caved in on the Tokyo-bound lanes on the Chuo Expressway in Yamanashi prefecture. | Pictures from closed circuit TV cameras inside the tunnel later showed a section of up to 100m (328ft) that had caved in on the Tokyo-bound lanes on the Chuo Expressway in Yamanashi prefecture. |
A reporter for public broadcaster NHK described driving through the tunnel as it began to collapse, seeing other cars trapped and on fire. His car was badly damaged, he said. | A reporter for public broadcaster NHK described driving through the tunnel as it began to collapse, seeing other cars trapped and on fire. His car was badly damaged, he said. |
Another survivor told the broadcaster that he saw "a concrete part of the ceiling fall off all of a sudden when I was driving inside. I saw a fire coming from a crushed car". | Another survivor told the broadcaster that he saw "a concrete part of the ceiling fall off all of a sudden when I was driving inside. I saw a fire coming from a crushed car". |
Survivor Tomohiro Suzuki said: "A part of the ceiling, just as wide as the road, had collapsed straight down and broken in the middle into a V-shape." | Survivor Tomohiro Suzuki said: "A part of the ceiling, just as wide as the road, had collapsed straight down and broken in the middle into a V-shape." |
He and his family walked for an hour to get out, with the smoke worsening. | He and his family walked for an hour to get out, with the smoke worsening. |
"I heard after a while on the public address system that a fire had occurred inside the tunnel and the sprinkler system was going to be activated," he told Jiji Press. | "I heard after a while on the public address system that a fire had occurred inside the tunnel and the sprinkler system was going to be activated," he told Jiji Press. |
"I kept wondering when the fire would spread and catch us," Mr Suzuki said. | "I kept wondering when the fire would spread and catch us," Mr Suzuki said. |
Japan is prone to large earthquakes, but none was reported in the area at the time. | Japan is prone to large earthquakes, but none was reported in the area at the time. |
Some experts have said that structural failure may be to blame - but this has not been confirmed by the authorities. | Some experts have said that structural failure may be to blame - but this has not been confirmed by the authorities. |