Twenty people were trapped for about six hours after an elevator at the Tokyo Skytree stalled just 30 meters above the ground on Sunday.
The elevator, which connects to the 350-meter-high observation deck, came to a standstill around 8:15 p.m. All passengers were rescued about six hours later, at around 2 a.m. on Monday.
No injuries or health issues were reported, according to the Tokyo Skytree operating company.
The company closed Skytree — a popular tourist destination — on Monday and Tuesday for a safety inspection as officials worked to determine the cause. It said that admission fees will be refunded to those with reservations for those days.
The Metropolitan Police Department and the operator said there are four elevators named after the seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. The units that stopped were Autumn and Winter.
The Autumn elevator was unoccupied but the Winter unit was carrying 20 passengers, including two children.
Rescuers lowered the Autumn elevator, which had been stationary at the observation deck, to the same level as the Winter unit and bridged the side emergency doors with a stainless steel plate.
Firefighters then assisted the 20 passengers in crossing over an approximate 1.5-meter distance between the two units.
The Spring and Summer units were also suspended for safety checks until around 9:35 p.m., which left about 1,200 people temporarily stranded on the observation deck. Those visitors had returned to the ground by 11 p.m.
Similar incidents have occurred in Skytree elevators in 2015 and 2017, although both earlier incidents were resolved within 30 minutes. Each elevator is equipped with emergency supplies, including drinking water, portable toilets, blankets and flashlights.
“We sincerely apologize for causing the prolonged entrapment and the mental distress to those involved,” the Skytree operating company said in a statement.
Translated by The Japan Times
AloJapan.com