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Japanese commuter train derails between Osaka & Kobe

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  • Japanese commuter train derails between Osaka & Kobe



    A crowded Japanese commuter train derailed and slammed into an apartment building on Monday, killing at least 49 people and injuring hundreds.

    Several people were still trapped in the wreckage more than five hours after the accident, which left one car wrapped around the building's first floor car park, as rescuers with stretchers and blankets struggled to reach survivors.

    About 300 people were taken to hospital, a police spokesman said, adding that he did not know whether the injured included anyone from the apartment building, which was located just six metres from the train tracks.

    Five cars derailed in the accident, which took place shortly after the morning rush hour in a residential area near the city of Osaka, about 400 kilometres west of Tokyo.

    Railway officials said the cause was not immediately apparent.
    Source

    What a terrible accident. I heard on the radio before that the train may have been running a few minutes late due to the driver overshooting the last stop. It is possible that the 23 year old driver was speeding to make up time.

    Poor people.
    YBBN - James


  • #2
    Man what a horrific accident...looks like it hit a car (look down below the fire engine to the left of the train wreck)

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    • #3
      Hopefully this is not a repeat of what happened in the US with someone trying to commit suicide using a car at a level crossing.

      On a side note, suicides involving people throwing themselves onto train tracks are not as popular anymore, as Japan Rail charges the family the cost of the disruption to the network. If it happens on the main lines in Tokyo, the family will be greaving and bankrupt.
      YBBN - James

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      • #4
        Horrible, my thoughts and prayers are with the families of those killed...
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        • #5
          aww , 49 killed ?,, OMG, this is really sad .. our thoughts goes to the families,who lost fathers,sons,sisters,mothers
          Inactive from May 1 2009.

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          • #6
            I was just watching the Japanese news. Apparently, the speed limit well before the turn was 120km/h. Approaching the turn, the limit was 70km/h. Officials from JR say that speeds over 133km/h would cause a derailment.

            Also, looking at that picture. The (train) car seen wrapped around the building is actually car no. 2. Car no. 1 is jammed inside the building.
            YBBN - James

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