Three workmen were killed and four were injured at Kawasaki Shipbuilding Corp.'s Kobe Shipyard in Chuo Ward, Kobe, on Saturday when the arm of a 50-meter, 800-ton shipbuilding crane collapsed while it was being repaired, police said.
Nine people were working on the crane when the accident occurred at 9:50 a.m. The three workmen killed fell from heights of between 12 meters and 30 meters.
The three are Yuzo Akase, 55, of Takasago, Hyogo Prefecture; Takeshi Shinohara, 40, of Nada Ward; and Kazuo Yamamoto, 55, of Tarumi Ward, both in Kobe, according to the police. The workmen had been trying to move the primary axis of the crane to replace some of the crane's parts since about 8:15 a.m. When the accident occurred, eight of the nine workmen were on the crane, while the remaining one was on the ground.
The police will question shipyard and company officials and inspect the site Sunday, suspecting professional negligence resulting in deaths and injuries.
The company intended to change the parts on Saturday and Sunday after unusual sounds were heard coming from sections of the crane. However, there was no manual for operating procedures, according to sources.
The crane, which was used to move shipbuilding materials, was located near the center of the shipyard. Its 30-meter arm bent into two near its center, and part of it crashed into the roof of a nearby factory building. The crane was set up at the shipyard in 1964.
"I thought it was an earthquake because of the tremendous roar," said a 21-year-old man who was working near the accident scene.
A 68-year-old man who saw the accident from about 500 meters away said: "The crane leaned slowly at first and then suddenly collapsed. It sounded like an earth tremor."
Tatsuki Fujimoto, the shipyard manager, said: "I apologize for causing such a serious accident. I hope the souls of the deceased rest in peace, and I apologize to the injured."
The accident occurred about 900 meters southeast of JR Kobe Station.
Nine people were working on the crane when the accident occurred at 9:50 a.m. The three workmen killed fell from heights of between 12 meters and 30 meters.
The three are Yuzo Akase, 55, of Takasago, Hyogo Prefecture; Takeshi Shinohara, 40, of Nada Ward; and Kazuo Yamamoto, 55, of Tarumi Ward, both in Kobe, according to the police. The workmen had been trying to move the primary axis of the crane to replace some of the crane's parts since about 8:15 a.m. When the accident occurred, eight of the nine workmen were on the crane, while the remaining one was on the ground.
The police will question shipyard and company officials and inspect the site Sunday, suspecting professional negligence resulting in deaths and injuries.
The company intended to change the parts on Saturday and Sunday after unusual sounds were heard coming from sections of the crane. However, there was no manual for operating procedures, according to sources.
The crane, which was used to move shipbuilding materials, was located near the center of the shipyard. Its 30-meter arm bent into two near its center, and part of it crashed into the roof of a nearby factory building. The crane was set up at the shipyard in 1964.
"I thought it was an earthquake because of the tremendous roar," said a 21-year-old man who was working near the accident scene.
A 68-year-old man who saw the accident from about 500 meters away said: "The crane leaned slowly at first and then suddenly collapsed. It sounded like an earth tremor."
Tatsuki Fujimoto, the shipyard manager, said: "I apologize for causing such a serious accident. I hope the souls of the deceased rest in peace, and I apologize to the injured."
The accident occurred about 900 meters southeast of JR Kobe Station.