Manhole deaths: Toxic gas suspected in deaths was 15 times the permissible limit
Police say one of the men fell to the bottom of the hole, which was more than 10 meters deep, and the other three followed in an attempt to rescue him. All four men were in their 50s.
The workers' company says the concentration of hydrogen sulfide detected at the time was more than 15 times the permissible exposure limit.
It adds that none of the men used safety equipment.
The company issued a statement of apology to the bereaved families and pledged full cooperation with the accident investigation.
The men were part of an emergency inspection of sewage pipes that was called for following the opening of a massive sinkhole in a road in the prefecture in January.
The cause of the deaths is being investigated further by the police.
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Manhole deaths: Toxic gas suspected in deaths was 15 times the permissible limit
Four men who died inside a manhole in Saitama Prefecture, north of Tokyo, on Saturday are believed to have succumbed to toxic gas. Authorities found traces of hydrogen sulfide inside the manhole, which was used to gain access to a sewage pipe. Police say one of the men fell to the bottom of the hole, which was more than 10 meters deep, and the other three followed in an attempt to rescue him. All four men were in their 50s. The workers' company says the concentration of hydrogen sulfide detected at the time was more than 15 times the permissible exposure limit. It adds that none of the men used safety equipment. The company issued a statement of apology to the bereaved families and pledged full cooperation with the accident investigation. The men were part of an emergency inspection of sewage pipes that was called for following the opening of a massive sinkhole in a road in the prefecture in January. The cause of the deaths is being investigated further by the police.
