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Two elevators at Tokyo Skytree, an observation and broadcasting tower, came to an “unexpected stop” on Sunday, Feb. 22, trapping 20 people inside
The visitors weren’t rescued until just after 2 a.m. the following day
Tokyo Skytree offered their “deepest apologies” for the incident and the “stress and discomfort” caused
Twenty people were trapped for almost six hours after an elevator at a popular tourist attraction in Tokyo came to a stop 100 feet from the floor.
The incident occurred on Sunday, Feb. 22, at the Tokyo Skytree, an observation and broadcasting tower in the center of Japan’s capital.
In a press release apologizing for the incident, Tokyo Skytree said that two elevators operating between the fourth floor and an observation deck at around 1148 feet came to an “unexpected stop” at approximately 8:15 p.m. local time.
One of the elevators was holding 20 people, and the visitors were stranded in the elevator until approximately 2:02 a.m. the following day.
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“While none of the affected guests suffered injuries or health concerns, we deeply regret the prolonged entrapment and the considerable stress and discomfort this must have caused,” the release continued. “We also extend our deepest apologies to all visitors at the observatory who experienced significant delays in descending from the Tembo Deck as a result of this incident.”
According to local news agency Kyodo News, two other elevators at the tower were out of use for about an hour while safety checks were conducted, leaving around 1,200 people on the observation deck and other areas of the tower unable to descend.
The cause of the elevator malfunction is currently being investigated, per the release.
“To prevent any recurrence of such incidents, we are conducting a comprehensive inspection of all elevators and further reinforcing our maintenance and safety management systems,” the release added.
According to the Tokyo Skytree website, the attraction is temporarily closed Feb. 23 through Feb. 26. Refunds have been offered for those with tickets for these days.
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Kyodo News reported that the elevator came to a sudden stop about 100 feet above street level, citing the police. An emergency call was made at around 8:20 p.m.
According to the outlet, the passengers were rescued after an adjacent elevator was placed at the same height and a panel, measuring nearly four-foot long, was placed between the two elevators so visitors could leave the stalled elevator through a side exit emergency door.
Two children were traveling in the elevator that was carrying visitors, per local newspaper The Japan Times.
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The same elevator also came to a sudden stop in March 2017, trapping 27 people inside for 18 minutes, per Kyodo News.
Opened in 2012, the Tokyo Skytree is the world’s tallest broadcasting tower at 2,080 feet high.
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