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.