Disasters Become Political Issues

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30286, 12 November 1963, Page 13

Disasters Become Political Issues

(N.Z.P-A.-Reuter—Copyright) TOKYO, November 11. Japan’s opposition political parties today brought the week-end railway and mining disasters into the campaign for Japan’s general election on November 21. They claimed both accidents could have been prevented had enough safety measures been taken. They said the two accidents resulted from a series of measures aimed at a hasty increase in coal production and in transport capacity.

These measures in turn could be traced to the Government’s “income doubling” policy, they said. The latest casualty figures for the railway crash near Yokohama on Saturday night were 162 (including seven unidentified bodies*. 40 seriously injured and 31 slightly injured. From the Miike coalfield in western Japan, officials said 447 were confirmed dead, 219 seriously injured, 713 slightly injured or safely out of the mine, and eight others still unaccounted for. It was believed 1387 miners were in toe mine when the explosion occurred.

Officials said rescue work was progressing smoothly in spite of poisonous gas filling ; the mine, and occasional cave-ins. They denied there had been any fresh explosions. The cave-ins, however, halted an attempt to find the cause of the explosion. One of the survivors was rescued 26 hours after the explosion. He was found almost unconscious, about 2000 yards underground, in a manhole with an iron lid. Many of the casualties in the coal mine were caused by an initial explosion in one shaft. This was attributed to a spark igniting finely powdered coal dust. The remaining casualties were caused by the spread through other

shafts of carbon monoxide gas caused by the explosion. In the railway crash, a freight train, on one of the six tracks running between Tokyo and Yokohama, lost some trucks, derailed by I causes not yet clearly estab- , lished. Towards this exact position ] two heavily-laden passenger | trains were converging to pass ; The passenger trains belonged ito a private company that i carries a heavy commuter | service between Yokosuka, on I Tokyo Bay. through a number of dormitory cities and I into Tokyo. I The down train, according to early investigation, stopped in time to avoid the derailed freight cars. The up train hit them and its leading coach was tossed aside. It cut into two coaches of the down ] train and vaulted through the ] air literally to bisect a third i coach. Wreck crews were 20 hours ] clearing the rubble, while ! firemen, police and ambu- ] lances carried off the dead ' and dying. Miners To Strike The Japan Coal Miners’ ] Union said today the mem- ] bers of the Miike branch ] would stage a 24-hour strike ] at the same time as the mine owners, the Mitsui Mining ] Company, would hold a mass funeral service for those I killed in the explosion, probably on November 19. A spokesman said the strike was designed to express sympathy towards the dead and a protest against the company which, he said, had been responsible for the disaster as it had not taken sufficient safety measures. The spokesman said members of the other coal miners’ unions would stage a one- ■ hour and 50-minute strike on I the same day. Inquiry Ordered The Prime Minister (Mr Ikeda) has ordered an expert inquiry into the cause of the mine disaster. Ten experts are expected to leave for the mine today. The mine owners are to be given a 1000 million yen emergency loan from the Coal Industry Rationalisation Agency to pay compensation to the victims, and the Government has also agreed to take steps for quick payment of labour accident insurance.

Message Of Sympathy (N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON. Nov. 11. The Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) has sent a message of sympathy to the Japanese Government after the two recent disasters. : In a message to the Japanese Prime Minister (Mr Ikeda), Mr Holyoake said he was grieved to learn of the two tragic disasters, and on behalf of the Government and the people of New Zealand expressed deep sympathy for all those who suffered loss.