Passenger sets self on fire on Japan bullet train

TOKYO (AP) — A passenger on one of Japan's high-speed bullet trains tried to set himself or herself on fire Tuesday, causing smoke to fill the carriage and forcing the train to stop, Japan's transport ministry said.

Two people were found unconscious, a ministry official said. Japanese media reported that at least one had died, but that could not be immediately confirmed.

The train came to an emergency stop when a passenger pressed an emergency button after finding one of the two passengers collapsed on the floor on a front car deck near a restroom, according to the ministry official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, citing department policy.

The incident occurred as the train passed near Odawara city, west of Tokyo, on its way to Osaka.

The passenger apparently had poured oil over his or her head before setting themselves on fire, the official said.

He said the second person was found collapsed in an area between the first and second cars.

Public television NHK said dozens of passengers were injured after inhaling smoke.

The fire has been extinguished, and passengers were evacuated from the train, NHK said.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-06-30

2 feared dead in Japan bullet train suicide fire – officia

‘We have been informed that there was a passenger in a car on the train who covered him or herself with oil and set it on fire’

TOKYO, Japan (UPDATED) – Two people were feared dead Tuesday, June 29 after an apparent suicide attempt on board a moving shinkansen bullet train in Japan, a spokesman for the operator told AFP.

“We have been informed that there was a passenger in a car on the train who covered him or herself with oil and set it on fire,” said a JR Central spokesman.

Full story: http://www.rappler.com/world/regions/asia-pacific/97909-bullet-train-fire-japan

— RAPPLER 2015-06-30

What's with this Japanese and suicide thing?

Reports: 2 dead after man sets self on fire on Japan train

ODAWARA, Japan (AP) — A man riding one of Japan's high-speed bullet trains set himself on fire Tuesday, killing himself and another passenger as the coach filled with smoke, Japanese officials and media reports said.

At least nine others were injured, one seriously, mostly from smoke inhalation, Odawara Fire Department official Ikutaro Torii said.

A Kanagawa prefecture police official confirmed the death of a female passenger and said the man who lit the fire is also apparently dead, but the extent of his burns is delaying formal confirmation.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to release the information. National broadcaster NHK and other media reported the deaths of the male and female passengers.

No other details were available immediately, including the motive.

The passenger apparently poured oil over his head before setting himself on fire, a transport ministry official said on condition of anonymity, citing department policy. Kyodo news service reported that he set himself on fire with a lighter. Officials said the fire was at the front of the first car in the train, which was heading from Tokyo to Osaka.

The train stopped when a passenger pressed an emergency button after finding someone collapsed on the floor near a restroom at the back of the car, the transport ministry official said.

Bullet train service between Tokyo and Osaka was suspended for about two and a half hours while rescue workers helped some of the injured off the train. It then moved slowly to Odawara station, where about 1,000 passengers got off.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-06-30

If you want to check out in such a horrible way , couldn't they have taken a few Tepco execs with them ?

If you want to check out in such a horrible way , couldn't they have taken a few Tepco execs with them ?

Or just do it in your own back yard, for Chrissake. Why cause a problem for anyone else?

A Kanagawa prefecture police official confirmed the death of a female passenger and said the man who lit the fire is also apparently dead, but the extent of his burns is delaying formal confirmation.

Maybe he is only mostly dead.

I guess the old way of killing yourself by impaling yourself on a sword is out these days. Why go alone when you can take someone with you!!'