9 bodies recoverable from vehicles crushed simply by tunnel collapse in Japan.

9 bodies, 8 advisors burned -- have been recently pulled from vehicles crushed inside a tunnel collapse about 70 kilometers (50 miles) western world of Tokyo, a interstate police spokesperson said Wednesday.

Five of the bodies were recovered in a charred station wagon, in addition to three others were with another burned car, according to the police spokesperson.

The Sasago tunnel within the Chuo Expressway remained shut down Monday morning, one day following your cave-in occurred on your highway's Tokyo-bound lanes, police from your nearby city of Otsuki mentioned.

Officials from the East Yamanashi Fire Department said the portion of concrete that fell was about 50 to 60 meters long and in relation to 20 centimeters (8 inches) thick.

"Cars in front of people were crushed down. It was terrifying, " a guy who witnessed the collapse told CNN affiliate TV SET Asahi.

"I don't think I could ever drive through that tunnel again, " he said.
Tunnel collapse with eastern Japan

Soon following your collapse, Japanese public broadcaster NHK broadcasted images showing smoke soaring, a blue car which consists of side smashed in, and emergency vehicles within the scene.

Crews worked during the night as snow fell outside the house, trying to get to be able to victims. All the while these were wary that the canal might collapse further. Individuals efforts continue, and authorities are yet to said if they believe more bodies will likely be found.

Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism mentioned it had ordered emergency inspections of approximately 49 tunnels nationwide that have a similar ceiling structure towards Sasago tunnel.

The independently held Central Nippon Expressway Organization operates the 4. 7-kilometer-long Sasago canal, among others, as effectively as expressways and cost roads around Japan.

Central Nippon Expressway conducts annual inspections with the tunnel, with one particularly thorough inspection held every single five years, a company spokesperson said. A more intensive inspection with the Sasago tunnel was held sometime before two to three several weeks, the spokesperson added.

The Chuo Expressway is always busy a stretch of highway that runs in between Tokyo and, among other areas, Mount Fuji.

While it is a ways from the Japanese people capital, the partial tunnel collapse and its subsequent closure is required to cause major traffic interruption, especially for those who count on it for business.

Authorities are yet to given any indication about when they expect your tunnel to reopen, nor is it clear why the collapse occurred.