Early on the morning of December 26, the Nagoya municipal subway's Higashiyama Line experienced significant service disruptions following a tragic incident at Sakae Station. At approximately 6:20 AM, reports emerged of a man, believed to be in his 50s, being struck by a train, which resulted in his death being confirmed at the scene. The accident caused immediate and widespread disruption, with services between Nagoya Station and Hoshigaoka Station suspended pending investigation.
According to the Nagoya City Police, the incident occurred when the man came in contact with the train headed toward Fujigaoka. Local officials have indicated he was found approximately 50 meters from the platform on the tracks. "The man was confirmed dead at the scene," stated authorities from the Nagoya City Police.
At the time of the incident, there were around 600 passengers aboard the train. Fortunately, reports state there were no injuries among them. Nevertheless, the train's operation was halted, leading to confusion and delays for many commuters. "The train had about 600 passengers on board, but it is unclear if anyone was injured," said representatives from the Nagoya City Fire Department.
Service remained suspended for about two and half hours. Initially, the entirety of the Higashiyama Line was affected, but by around 8:55 AM, operations were reported to have resumed. "At approximately 8 AM, services resumed between Nagoya Station and Hoshigaoka Station," relayed officials from the Nagoya City Transportation Bureau, bringing much-needed relief to stranded commuters.
The police are currently working to piece together the circumstances surrounding the incident and are urging any witnesses to come forward. "Police are urgently confirming the identity of the male victim," said local sources familiar with the investigation. With authorities investigating, details surrounding how the man ended up on the tracks remain unclear.
This unfortunate event serves as a stark reminder of the dangers present on subway systems, prompting discussions among officials and transit authorities about safety measures and protocols to prevent such tragedies from occurring again.
While the city railway system has resumed normal operations following the incident, the impact on the lives of those onboard the train, as well as the victim's family, remains immeasurable. The community will be watching closely as the investigation continues, hoping to find answers and closure surrounding this harrowing incident.
