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Homepage > Crazy Galleries > Deadly Derailment, 4 Die After Train Blown Off Tracks In Yamagata
Story: SHONAI, Yamagata -- Four people died when a train derailed here Sunday night after apparently being hit by strong winds, police and the railway operator said Monday.
The driver of the train, who suffered slight injuries in the accident, has told police investigators that the front carriage leaned to the left after being blown by strong winds, derailed and rolled over. Prefectural police are investigating the cause of the accident.
At around 7:15 p.m., five carriages of the six-car Inaho No. 14 limited express bound for Niigata from Akita derailed on the JR Uetsu Line between Sagoshi and Kita-Amarume stations, East Japan Railway Co. (JR East) officials said. Three of the five carriages rolled over and plunged several meters from the track.
Four of five passengers trapped in the front car were confirmed dead, while the other woman suffered serious injuries and was admitted to hospital. Another 32 passengers, including one who was seriously injured, have been transported to hospitals.
A warning was out for strong winds and heavy snow in the area at the time of the accident.
Under in-house regulations, trains are required to travel in the section at reduced speeds if the wind speed reaches 25 meters per second and stop if the wind speed reaches 30 meters per second.
However, the wind speed did not reach these levels at the time, the Niigata branch of JR East said. The speed limit was 120 kilometers per hour in the area.
The scene is situated 100 to 200 meters after a bridge over the Mogami River. (Mainichi)
The driver of the train, who suffered slight injuries in the accident, has told police investigators that the front carriage leaned to the left after being blown by strong winds, derailed and rolled over. Prefectural police are investigating the cause of the accident.
At around 7:15 p.m., five carriages of the six-car Inaho No. 14 limited express bound for Niigata from Akita derailed on the JR Uetsu Line between Sagoshi and Kita-Amarume stations, East Japan Railway Co. (JR East) officials said. Three of the five carriages rolled over and plunged several meters from the track.
Four of five passengers trapped in the front car were confirmed dead, while the other woman suffered serious injuries and was admitted to hospital. Another 32 passengers, including one who was seriously injured, have been transported to hospitals.
A warning was out for strong winds and heavy snow in the area at the time of the accident.
Under in-house regulations, trains are required to travel in the section at reduced speeds if the wind speed reaches 25 meters per second and stop if the wind speed reaches 30 meters per second.
However, the wind speed did not reach these levels at the time, the Niigata branch of JR East said. The speed limit was 120 kilometers per hour in the area.
The scene is situated 100 to 200 meters after a bridge over the Mogami River. (Mainichi)