Japanese commuter train derails, apartment building smashed
{{date|April 25, 2005}}
[[Image:Japan hyogo map small.png|thumb|right|180px|Hyogo province]]
A seven-car commuter train carrying 580 passengers jumped off the tracks, plowed through a car, and collided with a nine-story apartment building in [[w:Amagasaki|Amagasaki]], [[Japan]] on Monday at 9:18 am local time (00:18 UTC). The crash was about 410km west of [[w:Tokyo|Tokyo]] near [[w:Osaka|Osaka]] in the  [[w:Hyogo Prefecture|Hyogo]] prefecture.

Casualties have risen to 101 deaths and at least 440 injuries. The train had 600 people on board at the time, including crew. Rescue workers swarmed the scene where two of the rail cars were flattened against walls of the apartment building.

It appears that excessive speed was a factor in the wreck. Investigators are focusing on the 23-year-old driver who overshot the last station on the line before the wreck, and had received a warning in the past for a similar incident.

The accident is the worst rail disaster since 1963, when a three-train crash killed 161. The rail is part of the [[w:West Japan Railway Company|West Japan Railway Co]] of [[w:Fukuchiyama Line|Fukuchiyama Line]]. The rail president Takeshi Kakiuchi publicly apologized, telling reporters, "Our most important task now is to rescue the passengers from the accident and we are doing our best."

Japan has one of the world's most complex and widely used rail systems.

== Related news ==
*{{Wikinews|title=Rescuers search for survivors of Japan rail disaster|date=April 26, 2005}}

==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/26/international/asia/26japan.html?ex=1272168000&en=19b76cedbedc1666&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss
|title=Toll Rises to 71 in Japan Crash; Riders Blame Train's Speed
|pub=The New York Times
|author=Norimitsu Onishi
|date=April 26, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050425/ap_on_re_as/japan_train_derailed
|title=Japan Eyes Speed in Train Derail Probe
|pub=Yahoo
|author=Mari Yamaguchi, AP
|date=April 25, 2005}}
*{{Source|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2005/04/25/1114281485529.html?from=top5&oneclick=true
|title=Japan train toll at least 43
|pub=theAge.com.au (subscription)
|author=
|date=April 27[sic], 2005}}
*{{Source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4480031.stm|pub=BBC|author=|title=Japan train derailment kills 37|date=April 25, 2005}}
*{{Source|url=http://home.kyodo.co.jp/all/display.jsp?an=20050425917
|title=25 dead, at least 220 injured in Hyogo train derailment: Fire dept.
|pub=Kyodo News
|author=
|date=April 25, 2005}}
*{{Source|url=http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=8276501
|title=At Least 37 Killed in Japanese Train Accident
|pub=Reuters
|author=
|date=April 25, 2005}}

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[[Category:Asia]]
[[Category:Japan]]
[[Category:Disasters and accidents]]
[[Category:Transport]]
[[Category:Rail transport]]

[[de:Zugunglück in Japan]]
[[es:Tren se descarrila y se estrella contra un edificio en Japón]]
[[it:Incidente ferroviario in Giappone]]
[[pt:Acidente de trem no Japão mata mais de 40 pessoas]]
Hyogo province
A seven-car commuter train carrying 580 passengers jumped off the tracks, plowed through a car, and collided with a nine-story apartment building in Amagasaki, Japan on Monday at 9:18 am local time (00:18 UTC). The crash was about 410km west of Tokyo near Osaka in the  Hyogo prefecture.

Casualties have risen to 101 deaths and at least 440 injuries. The train had 600 people on board at the time, including crew. Rescue workers swarmed the scene where two of the rail cars were flattened against walls of the apartment building.

It appears that excessive speed was a factor in the wreck. Investigators are focusing on the 23-year-old driver who overshot the last station on the line before the wreck, and had received a warning in the past for a similar incident.

The accident is the worst rail disaster since 1963, when a three-train crash killed 161. The rail is part of the West Japan Railway Co of Fukuchiyama Line. The rail president Takeshi Kakiuchi publicly apologized, telling reporters, "Our most important task now is to rescue the passengers from the accident and we are doing our best."

Japan has one of the world's most complex and widely used rail systems.


de:Zugunglück in Japan
es:Tren se descarrila y se estrella contra un edificio en Japón
it:Incidente ferroviario in Giappone
Acidente de trem no Japão mata mais de 40 pessoas
Asia Japan Disasters and accidents Transport Rail transport