Four workers killed after being hit by train in Japan

Four workers have died after being struck by a train at Shin-Kanuma Station, north of Tokyo, according to Japanese authorities. The incident occurred at approximately 10:46 local time (01:46 GMT) while the workers were removing weeds from the railway tracks.

Police said that when emergency services arrived at the scene, three of the workers were trapped under the train, while a fourth was found on the platform. All four were later pronounced dead.

The train involved was a limited express service on the Tobu Nikko Line, operated by Tobu Railway. As a result of the accident, train services on the line have been suspended, according to the railway company.

A passenger on board the train told Japanese public broadcaster NHK that they heard a “strange noise” before the train made an emergency stop. The passenger said that passengers were kept on the train for a while as staff announced they were investigating the noise.

Fatal train accidents are rare in Japan, which has one of the world's most extensive and punctual railway networks. The limited express train involved in Thursday's incident is the second-fastest category of train in Japan, after the Shinkansen or bullet train.

Under normal safety protocols, an employee is stationed near work sites to warn track workers of approaching trains. The Asahi Shimbun newspaper reported that it was unclear what the situation was on Thursday morning when the accident happened.

A representative from Tobu Railway told the BBC that the usual lookout system was operating as normal. “When a train approaches, a lookout waves a flag and, once the driver acknowledges it, sounds the horn,” the representative said. “We are currently investigating why the accident occurred despite this.”

Local media reported that the workers were engaged in weed removal along the tracks when the collision took place. The railway company and police have launched a full investigation into the circumstances leading to the deaths.

Accidents involving railway workers in Japan are extremely uncommon, and authorities have stressed the need to determine the exact cause of this tragic event. The names of the deceased have not yet been released, pending notification of their families.

The incident has prompted renewed scrutiny of safety measures on Japan's railways, which are widely regarded as among the safest in the world. Officials have indicated that they will review existing protocols to prevent similar tragedies in the future.