At least four injured in possible chemical leak on Tohoku Shinkansen

At least four people were sent to hospital on Monday after an apparent leak of a chemical liquid on a Shinkansen high-speed train in northeastern Japan.

The affected people, including a child aged around 5, appeared to have suffered burns or were complaining of symptoms such as feeling unwell, according to the fire department of Sendai, the capital of Miyagi Prefecture.

Their conditions are not life-threatening, officials said.

The incident happened on the Hayabusa No. 52 train on the Tohoku Shinkansen Line, which was heading for Tokyo Station from Shin-Aomori Station in Aomori Prefecture, north of Miyagi, according to East Japan Railway Co., or JR East.

A passenger of the bullet train made an emergency call to fire authorities around noon, reporting a possible chemical liquid leak.

(Jiji Press and NHK)