Sunday, December 2, 2012

Highway tunnel collapses in Japan


A highway tunnel in central Japan caved in on Sunday morning, hitting passing vehicles and at least 7 people may be trapped.Police in Yamanashi Prefecture said the ceiling of the 4.7-kilometer Sasago Tunnel, west of Tokyo on the Chuo Expressway, collapsed at a spot about 2 kilometers from an exit around 8 AM.

Police confirmed through monitoring cameras that several cars were trapped and black smoke was spewing from within the tunnel.Witnesses say at least 3 vehicles were crushed under debris. Fire officials say 2 women were treated for light injuries at hospital.

The officials quoted one woman as saying she does not know the whereabouts of 5 people she was with in a car. Another report says at least 2 other people are unaccounted for.

Fire department headquarters say they have received a request from a transportation company for the rescue of a driver trapped inside a truck in the tunnel.

Reports say additional people have been walking out of the tunnel.

Police are trying to confirm a report that about 20 vehicles are still inside the tunnel in addition to the 3 cars under the debris. Fire fighters extinguished the fire on one of the vehicles by around noon.

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