Japan media: Nine dead after tunnel collapse

[NewsCaster]

Authorities are still searching for survivors after the partial collapse of a tunnel in Japan on Saturday night. NBC's Lester Holt has more. By NBC News staff and wire servicesUpdated at 10:50 p.m. ET: TOKYO — A tunnel on a major highway in central Japan collapsed on Sunday, killing nine people and starting a blaze, Japanese media reported.

Follow @NBCNewsUSRescue efforts  inside the smashed tunnel, which began spewing smoke after concrete ceiling panels fell onto the road, were delayed by the fallen debris, public broadcaster NHK reported.

Nine bodies were recovered, including five from a burned van and three more from another vehicle, according to news reports.

The fire service earlier said at least seven people were unaccounted for in the 2.8-mile tunnel in Yamanashi prefecture, about 50 miles west of Tokyo on the Chou Expressway, a main road connecting the capital to western Japan.




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