Four workers dead after being hit by train in Japan

Four workers in Japan died after being struck by a train at Shin-Kanuma Station, north of Tokyo, authorities said. The collision occurred around 10:46 local time (01:46 GMT) while the workers were removing weeds from the tracks, local media reported. When emergency services arrived at the scene, three workers were trapped under the train and one was on the platform, police said. Train service has been suspended on the Tobu Nikko Line due to the accident, according to the railway company that operates the line. A passenger on the train told Japanese public broadcaster NHK that they heard a "strange noise" before the train made an emergency stop. He said passengers were stuck on the train for a while as staff announced they were investigating the noise. The train involved in the collision was a limited express service, NHK reported. Limited expresses are the second‑fastest trains in Japan, after the Shinkansen, also known as the bullet train. Usually a worker is stationed nearby to warn track crews of approaching trains, but it was unclear what the situation was like on Thursday morning when the accident occurred, the Asahi Shimbun reported. Fatal train accidents are uncommon in Japan, which relies on an extensive railway network.