Questions Arise After Tokyo Hit by Multiple Nighttime Emergencies

By Hiroshi Yamamoto

This article originally appeared in The Kokumin Chronicle and is reprinted with permission.

The chaotic events that overwhelmed Tokyo Metropolitan Police and emergency services last night have sent shockwaves through communities across the capital and through every level of government, both local and national. In light of the seriousness of the incidents, Chief Cabinet Secretary Sato Akihiko held a late-night press conference in the briefing room of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, where he sought to address the unprecedented disruption and reassure the public.

Shortly before seven-thirty last night, the container ship MV Orinoco Mistress issued an SOS after a fire broke out in one of its bays transporting electric vehicles. The ship, registered in Panama, had been waiting to unload its cargo at the Aomi Container Terminal when the incident began.

Almost simultaneously, gas-leak alarms were triggered in several Tokyo districts - including the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku, and in the business districts of Otemachi, Marunouchi, Yurakucho, and Akasaka. Tokyo Metropolitan Police and emergency crews were deployed to coordinate evacuations and investigate the reports.

Meanwhile, the fire aboard the Orinoco Mistress intensified, sending thick plumes of toxic smoke into the night sky and prompting temporary operational restrictions at Haneda Airport as authorities assessed the risks of airborne contaminants.

As residents tried to navigate the unfolding emergencies, traffic across the capital collapsed. Commuters, receiving scattered and sometimes conflicting alerts, became trapped in their vehicles while emergency units struggled to reach affected areas through the gridlock.

The situation reached a feverish pitch when motorists near cordoned zones where gas leaks had been reported began abandoning their vehicles. At the same time, scores of firefighters in full protective gear converged on the affected districts, their presence adding to the sense of alarm.

In a separate development, authorities confirmed that a serious incident occurred at the Kanagawa Institute of Subatomic Research during the height of last night’s turmoil. Officials offered no details but said the matter is “under active investigation in coordination with other agencies.”

Authorities are now examining whether the remarkable timing of the various incidents was the result of coincidence - or if a coordinated effort may have been at play.

Hiroshi Yamamoto covers national and international affairs for The Kokumin Chronicle.