The only subway line serving the venue of the 2025 World Expo in Osaka was suspended due to a power outage late on Wednesday, stranding many visitors.
The Osaka Metro Chuo Line was out of service from around 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday. The reason for the power outage is unknown.
The suspension forced the closure of Yumeshima Station, the nearest stop to the Expo venue, leaving large crowds unable to leave.
Shortly before midnight, access to the station was restored, and trains began running to the next station. But many visitors remained stuck.
Emergency officials say one person with a leg injury and 33 others complaining of feeling sick had been taken to hospital as of 1:30 a.m. on Thursday.
Some visitors unable to return home stayed overnight in pavilions opened as emergency shelters.
The Osaka prefectural government and the organizer of the exposition distributed water and food.
Full service on the Chuo Line resumed shortly after 5 a.m. on Thursday.
One visitor in his 40s said he and his family slept under the Grand Ring, a huge wooden structure serving as the symbol of the Osaka Expo.
He said they checked the live camera to monitor the crowds and stayed away from the station. He added they decided at around 1 a.m. to remain in the venue.
He said some restaurants and pavilions stayed open and his family could obtain water easily. He also said there was a breeze so the heat was not as bad as he had expected.
The Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition said the venue would open an hour later than usual on Thursday at 10 a.m.
AloJapan.com