Four railway workers killed during maintenance in Japan

Four railway workers were struck and killed by a train while performing maintenance work on tracks near a station in Kanuma, Japan, located approximately 130 kilometers north of Tokyo. The incident occurred on the morning of August 20, 2026, with emergency services receiving a distress call at 10:47 local time.

Upon arrival at the scene, rescue teams discovered that three of the workers were trapped underneath the train, while the fourth was found on the platform. All four individuals were unresponsive and were subsequently transported to a local hospital where they were reported to have no vital signs. The authorities, including the local fire department and Kyodo News, have confirmed the fatalities resulting from the collision.

Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the accident are currently underway to determine how the workers were struck during the maintenance operations. No further details regarding the specific cause of the incident or the status of the train crew have been released at this time.