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The families of two Chinese tourists who died in a train accident in Kobe, Japan, have filed a lawsuit against Sanyo Electric Railway
Submitted to Kobe District Court on 4 December, the suit seeks 140 million yen (RM 3.42 million) in compensation.
The incident occurred on 9 January at a Sanyo Electric Railway level crossing in Tarumi Ward, where the two women were struck after inadvertently standing in the path of an oncoming train.
According to reports, the victims had entered the crossing and were waiting for a signal to proceed
Japanese media 163 reported that the victims mistakenly thought the yellow-marked zone inside the lowered barriers was a safe waiting area, unaware they were actually standing on the tracks.
The driver of an approaching local train spotted the women and applied the emergency brakes, but was unable to stop the vehicle in time. One woman was killed instantly, while the other succumbed to her injuries after being rushed to the hospital.
The lawsuit alleges negligence by both the driver and Sanyo Electric Railway
Legal representatives for the families argue that the driver should have identified the danger from 150m away and sounded the horn immediately.
They also argue that the crossing's design was confusing and misleading, particularly for foreign tourists unfamiliar with it.
The lawyers noted that similar accidents had occurred at the site previously, yet the operator failed to make substantial safety improvements.
Following the tragedy, assessments by Japanese authorities confirmed that the pedestrian space at the crossing was dangerously narrow
Officials have since recommended widening the area and improving visibility to prevent future incidents.
According to QQ, Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism announced that improvement works would be undertaken, and the crossing has been closed for construction.
