Mar 17 (NHK) - A Tohoku Shinkansen bullet train that was running in Miyagi Prefecture derailed after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck off Japan's northeast coast late Wednesday night.
The bullet train, the Yamabiko 223 bound for Sendai from Tokyo, came off the tracks between Fukushima and Shiroishizao stations.
East Japan Railway says the emergency brake was applied as a quake was detected while the train was running, but 16 of the 17 cars derailed.
The company says none of the 75 passengers and three crew members aboard were injured. They were trapped inside the train for about four hours after the derailment caused a power outage. They got off the train and evacuated from an emergency exit along the line.
JR East says it will take a considerable time to inspect facilities and check the extent of damage before it can resume Tohoku Shinkansen services between Nasushiobara and Morioka stations.
Source: 日テレNEWS
