Commuters in Tokyo faced severe disruption on Friday morning after a fire and subsequent power outage brought several of the city's vital rail lines to a standstill.
Fire Halts Critical Services
The chaos began when a fire broke out on the tracks near Tamachi station. Witnesses reported flames coming from a transformer, an incident that directly contributed to a rare and widespread power failure. The outage forced East Japan Railway to suspend services on multiple major lines, including sections of the iconic Yamanote and Keihin-Tohoku lines.
Morning Commute Descends into Chaos
The suspension, occurring during the peak Friday morning commute on 16 January 2026, led to immediate and intense consequences. Thousands of passengers were left stranded at stations across the Japanese capital. Major hubs became dangerously crowded as people sought information and alternative routes. Despite the significant disruption and scenes of congestion, authorities confirmed that no injuries were reported.
Investigation and Recovery
Transport authorities have launched an investigation to determine the precise connection between the transformer fire and the extensive power outage. In a statement, officials indicated that services were expected to resume by 1pm local time, offering some relief to the disrupted city. The incident forced a rethink of daily travel for countless residents, highlighting the fragility of urban transport networks when critical infrastructure fails.
