Tokyo, Agencies: A fire erupted in the vicinity of a Japan Railway (JR) station in Tokyo on Sunday, impacting train services on a section of the JR Keihin-Tohoku Line. The incident led to the evacuation of 800 passengers, with reports indicating one person injured in the incident.
The fire was reported at approximately 10:10 a.m. local time at a restaurant in Yamao, Ota Ward, Tokyo, near JR Oimori Station. Video footage broadcasted by the national broadcaster NHK depicted flames emerging from the restaurant and an adjacent building. The Tokyo Fire Department swiftly responded to the emergency, dispatching 24 firefighting vehicles to the scene.
According to JR East, train operations were suspended on the JR Keihin-Tohoku Line between Shinagawa Station and Kamata Station in both directions. Simultaneously, a 10-car train on the JR Keihin-Tohoku Line came to a standstill between Oimori Station and Kamata Station, leading to the evacuation of approximately 800 passengers onto the tracks. Passengers were guided on foot as a precautionary measure.
The incident’s repercussions also extended to JR Tokaido Line services, which were temporarily halted between Shinagawa Station and Yokohama Station in both directions.
Reports from the scene suggested explosive sounds, prompting authorities, including the fire department, to launch further investigations into the cause of the fire. The injured individual’s condition remains under observation, and efforts are underway to restore normalcy to the affected train services.