TOKYO, Japan — Four railway workers were left unconscious Thursday after being struck by a train at Shin-Kanuma Station in Tochigi Prefecture, north of Tokyo, authorities said.
The incident happened on August 20, 2026, with emergency responders finding three of the workers trapped beneath the train and another worker on the station platform.
A fire department spokesman told AFP that all four workers were unconscious when they were taken for medical treatment. Another media report said the workers were “without vital signs,” although authorities had not, at the time of the latest available reports, confirmed that any of the four had died.
Three workers trapped under the train
The emergency response was complicated by the location of the workers. According to the fire department, rescuers arriving at the scene found three workers underneath the train, while the fourth was lying on the platform.
The workers were subsequently taken for medical care.
Authorities have not yet released detailed information about their identities, ages, or the full extent of their injuries. The circumstances that led to the workers being on or near the track when the train arrived also remain unclear in the initial reports.
Incident occurred at Shin-Kanuma Station
Shin-Kanuma Station is operated by Tobu Railway on the Tobu Nikko Line. The railway operator’s official station information lists Shin-Kanuma in Kanuma, Tochigi Prefecture, and identifies it as a station serving the Tobu Nikko Line.
The station normally handles both local and limited-express services, including Tobu’s Revaty and Spacia services toward the Nikko and Kinugawa areas, according to published timetables.
Investigation expected to focus on track safety
The immediate circumstances surrounding the collision have not been fully explained.
Authorities are expected to examine why the workers were in the train’s path, what safety procedures were in place at the time, and whether the train crew received adequate warning that workers were on or near the track.
For now, officials have not publicly assigned responsibility for the incident.
Japan is internationally known for its highly developed railway system and strong safety record. AFP noted that Japanese railways have one of the world’s best safety records, making incidents involving workers on railway tracks particularly significant from a rail-safety perspective.
What we know so far
- Location: Shin-Kanuma Station, Kanuma, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan
- Date: August 20, 2026
- Victims: Four railway workers
- Condition: All four were reported unconscious
- Rescue: Three workers were found trapped under the train; one was on the platform
- Fatalities: Not officially confirmed in the latest available reports
- Investigation: Circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation
More information is expected as Japanese authorities release further details about the workers’ conditions and the circumstances leading to the collision.
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