Train Collision with Wind-Blown Shed in Nagano Prefecture Kills One, Injures Two

SUZAKA, Japan, May 22, 2025 — A Nagano Electric Railway train collided with a metal-framed shed in Suzaka City, Nagano Prefecture, on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, resulting in one fatality and two injuries. The incident, which occurred shortly before 6 p.m., is believed to have been caused by strong winds blowing the shed onto the tracks, according to local police.

The collision shattered windows on the three-car train, which was en route to Nagano Station. A 56-year-old company worker from Nagano City, riding in the first carriage, was killed. Two other passengers, male civil servants aged 65 and 56, sustained minor head injuries.

Police investigations indicate that the shed, located in a nearby field, was dislodged by powerful winds and struck the train. Weather conditions in Nagano Prefecture were highly unstable on Wednesday due to moist air and rising temperatures, with developed rain clouds observed near Suzaka City in the evening. A tornado advisory was in effect for northern Nagano Prefecture, including Suzaka, at the time of the accident.

Nagano Electric Railway and local authorities are continuing to investigate the incident to determine further details and assess safety measures. The Japan Meteorological Agency noted that unstable atmospheric conditions have occasionally led to strong winds and localized tornadoes in the region, with similar incidents reported in recent years, such as a 2019 event in Chiba Prefecture where strong winds caused significant property damage, according to NHK reports.