Japan Tunnel Collapse

Some of the nine-inch bolts were found near the site of the collapse, officials said. Two vehicles caught fire inside the tunnel after the collapse on Sunday morning, with heavy smoke initially hampering rescue efforts. The location of the collapse, around one mile into the three-mile tunnel, also made recovery difficult. It is unclear if there are survivors inside. An estimated 270 concrete slabs - each weighing 1.4 metric tons - collapsed over a stretch of around 110 metres. Drivers described narrow escapes from falling debris, and a long walk through the darkness after abandoning their cars. "When I was driving in the tunnel, concrete pieces fell down suddenly from the ceiling," a man in his 30s told public broadcaster NHK. "I saw a crushed car catching fire. I left my car and walked for about an hour to get out of the tunnel." Another said: "I could hear voices of people calling for help, but the fire was just too strong."