Tokyo-bound express train hits and kills four workers at railway station in Japan

Four individuals working on a railway track in Japan were killed on Thursday when they were struck by an express train at Shin-Kanuma Station, according to officials. The incident occurred as the Tokyo-bound Spacia express train was entering the station, while the workers were still on duty. The four victims included three workers and a supervisor, who were rushed to a hospital but later pronounced dead.

Six other people were present at the scene, including two workers, three on lookout duty, and an on-site supervisor. Fortunately, all six remained unharmed. They were tasked with spraying herbicide on the railway line. The source of the workers' failure to leave the site when the train approached, and the purpose of the lookout personnel, remains unclear.

The investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing. Fatal train accidents are infrequent in Japan, which is known for its reliable and punctual transportation system. Tobu Railway Co., the train operator, expressed regret for the tragedy and pledged to implement preventive measures to prevent such incidents in the future.

All trains on the Tobu Nikko Line were halted for several hours following the accident, but services resumed later that same day.