Two people died and seven others were injured when a bridge girder slipped off a raised platform at a construction site in central Japan early Thursday, according to local police in Japan.
Seven people were taken to hospital after the incident, with two workers in their 50s confirmed dead and two others left seriously injured. Around 20 workers were building a multi-level bypass in Shizuoka Prefecture.
The police are investigating the incident and are considering charging those found responsible with professional negligence resulting in death, according to Japan's (Kyodo) News Agency.
The 65-meter steel frame, which weighs around 140 tons and formed the foundation of the elevated roadway, slipped from a height of some 9 meters, police said.
"We have heard that many people have been injured. We take this incident seriously and we are very sorry," said an official of Namura Shipbuilding Co.
The elevated bypass was being installed to alleviate traffic congestion, according to the highway office. The bridge is slated to open in the spring of 2026.
Source: Qatar News Agency