Japan orders inspection after tunnel tragedy

(Vatican Radio) Authorities in Japan have ordered an urgent inspection of many of the nation's road tunnels, after the roof inside one collapsed, crushing cars and killing nine motorists.

It's thought that the tunnel had structural problems which passed unnoticed in a recent inspection.


A tunnel roof fell onto a busy highway, crushing cars.


A helicopter took away the injured. One woman...said the vehicle she was in seemed to have been sliced in two by the fallen concrete.

The tunnel was almost five kilometers long.

It had a false ceiling, made of heavy concrete slabs suspended from metal pins installed more than 30 years ago.

It's now thought they might have come loose.


Highway officials admit a safety inspection this year might have failed to spot the problem.

The tragedy has gripped people across Japan: this is a mountainous nation
and any road or rail journey is likely to involve many tunnels.

The government has ordered urgent inspections of 49 similar tunnels it operates, and for private road operators to follow suit.

Meanwhile, on Monday rescuers paused their efforts to find other victims trapped out of fear that more ceiling panels could fall. Listen to Alastair Wanklyn in Tokyo.