1.
TV.WRECKED COACHES LYING ON THEIR SIDE.
0.05

2.
STV PAN..DITTO.
0.11

3.
STV.WRECKAGE.
0.16

4.
STV.PEOPLE WAIT.
0.21

5.
CU.UNDERSIDE OF TRAIN.
0.25

6.
SV.RESCUE WORKERS WALK BY.
0.32

7.
SCU.DITTO.
0.38

8.
LV.CRANE LIFTS WRECKAGE.
0.43

9.
CU.WRECKED BOGEY.
0.45

10.
SV.ACETYLENE CUTTERS AT WORK.
0.48

11.
CU.DITTO.
0.51

12.
SLV.WORKERS UNDER TRAIN.
0.54

13.
CU.PAIR OF SHOES WITH OTHER BELONGINGS.
0.57

14.
TOP V PAN..WRECKAGE.
1.02

15.
LV.TEMPLE WITH WREATHS OUTSIDE.
1.07

16.
STV INT..ROW OF COFFINS.
1.12

17.
STV.MOURNERS KNEEL BEFORE COFFINS.
1.15

18.
STV.MOURNERS.
1.19

19.
SV.DITTO.
1.23

20.
SCU.DITTO.
1.27

21.
LV.ROWS OF COFFINS.
1.32



Initials EHR/S/CJB JRG/S/MR/PB


EDITORS: SEE PART B - 2562/62.

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: IN ONE OF THE WORST ACCIDENTS IN THE HISTORY OF JAPANESE RAILWAYS, A STEAM GOODS TRAIN AND TWO ELECTRIC TRAINS CRAMMED WITH PASSENGERS CRASHED MAY 3 ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF TOKYO. OVER A HUNDRED-AND-SIXTY PEOPLE DIED, AND MANY MORE WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED.

THERE HAD BEEN THREE SEPARATE COLLISIONS WITHIN MINUTES OF EACH OTHER. THE GOODS TRAIN RAN INTO SOME BUFFERS AND WAS DERAILED, TO BE STRUCK BY A PASSING ELECTRIC TRAIN. A THIRD ELECTRIC TRAIN CANNONED INTO THE WRECKAGE. MANY WHO HAD SURVIVED IN THE FIRST TRAIN DIED IN THE PATH OF THE SECOND.

THEY HAD LET THEMSELVES OUT THROUGH THE EMERGENCY RELEASE DOORS, INSTALLED ON ALL JAPANESE TRAINS SINCE A DISASTER SOME YEARS AGO WHEN PASSENGER WERE TRAPPED IN BLAZING COACHES.

BODIES OF THE DEAD WERE TAKEN TO A NEARBY BUDDHIST TEMPLE TO BE IDENTIFIED AND CLAIMED BY WEEPING RELATIVES. THE INJURED WERE REMOVED TO 23 HOSPITALS IN THE DISTRICT. LACK OF WATER IN THE CITY DUE TO DWINDLING SUPPLIES HAMPERED MEDICAL WORK.

AS THE DEATH ROLL MOUNTED, THE PRESIDENT OF JAPAN NATIONAL RAILWAYS ANNOUNCED THAT PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATIONS REVEALED THAT THE CRASHES WERE DUE TO NEGLIGENCE. FIVE RAILWAYMEN HAVE SINCE BEEN ARRESTED.

THE WORST DISASTER IN WORLD RAILWAY HISTORY OCCURRED IN DECEMBER 1917 AT MODANE, FRANCE, WHEN AN OVERLOADED TRAIN LEFT THE RAILS AND CRASHED, KILLING 543 PEOPLE. IN MARCH 1944, 521 PEOPLE WERE SUFFOCATED WHEN A TRAIN RAN OUT OF STEAM IN A TUNNEL NEAR POTENZA, SICILY.