Four workers dead after being hit by train in Japan – BBC News
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Four Workers Dead After Being Struck by Train in Japan
Four workers in Japan have died after being struck by a train at Shin-Kanuma Station, north of Tokyo, authorities say.
The collision occurred around 10:46 local time (01:46 GMT) while the workers were removing weeds from the train tracks, local media reported. When emergency services arrived, three workers were trapped under the train, while one was on the platform, police said.
Train service has been suspended on the Tobu Nikko Line due to the accident, according to the railway company operating the line.
A passenger on the train told Japanese public broadcaster NHK that they heard a "strange noise" before the train made an emergency stop. He described passengers being stuck on the train for a while as staff announced they were investigating the noise.
The train involved was a limited express train, according to NHK. These are the second-fastest trains in Japan, after the Shinkansen (also known as the bullet train).
Usually, there would be an employee stationed nearby to warn workers on the tracks of approaching trains—but it was unclear what the situation was like on Thursday morning when the accident occurred, the Asahi Shimbun newspaper reported.
Fatal train accidents are rare in Japan, which relies heavily on a sprawling railway network.
