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Fire on Japan bullet train after reports man tried to set himself alight Fire on Japan bullet train after man tried to set himself alight
(35 minutes later)
A Japanese Shinkansen bullet train made an emergency stop on Tuesday and a passenger was found at the entrance of a carriage covered in flammable liquid, officials said. A passenger on one of Japan’s high-speed bullet trains tried to set himself on fire on Tuesday, causing smoke to fill the carriage and forcing the train to stop, Japan’s transport ministry has said.
Media reports said a man in his 30s had set himself on fire. Two people were found unconscious, a ministry official said. Japanese media reported that at least one had died, but that could not be immediately confirmed.
Two people were reported to be in cardiac arrest after smoke was detected on the train, which was bound for the western city of Osaka from Tokyo. The incident occurred as the train passed near Odawara city, west of Tokyo, on its way to Osaka.
Public television NHK said dozens of passengers were injured after inhaling smoke. The fire has now been extinguished and passengers evacuated from the train, NHK said.
After the Shinkansen bullet train made an emergency stop, a passenger was found at the entrance of a carriage covered in flammable liquid, officials said.
Unconfirmed media reports said a man in his 30s had set himself on fire.
Footage on TBS television showed a train carriage filled with smoke and passengers evacuating with handkerchiefs pressed to their faces. One clutched a baby to their chest.Footage on TBS television showed a train carriage filled with smoke and passengers evacuating with handkerchiefs pressed to their faces. One clutched a baby to their chest.
Aerial television footage showed white smoke coming from the train, as it sat stationary on a stretch of track surrounded by firefighters.Aerial television footage showed white smoke coming from the train, as it sat stationary on a stretch of track surrounded by firefighters.
The fire erupted at around 11.30 am (02.30 GMT) when the train was about 70km (45 miles) from the capital.The fire erupted at around 11.30 am (02.30 GMT) when the train was about 70km (45 miles) from the capital.
An official at JR Tokai, the central Japan railway agency, said the train stopped after the emergency button was pushed and the passenger was then discovered.An official at JR Tokai, the central Japan railway agency, said the train stopped after the emergency button was pushed and the passenger was then discovered.
Broadcasters said passengers were evacuated through the fourth car.Broadcasters said passengers were evacuated through the fourth car.
Japan’s ultra-efficient Shinkansen train network connects cities along the length and breadth of the country.Japan’s ultra-efficient Shinkansen train network connects cities along the length and breadth of the country.
Despite the huge volume of passengers it serves, the network operates with an enviable punctuality rate. It also has an unparalleled safety record, with no one ever having been killed in a crash in its half-century of service.Despite the huge volume of passengers it serves, the network operates with an enviable punctuality rate. It also has an unparalleled safety record, with no one ever having been killed in a crash in its half-century of service.
More details to follow.More details to follow.