Elevators at Tokyo Sky Tree caused a significant incident, trapping 20 people for over five hours, prompting apologies from the manufacturer, Toshiba Elevator.
On the night of the 22nd, two elevators at Tokyo Sky Tree experienced an emergency stop, trapping 20 visitors inside for more than five hours. This alarming event is not an isolated incident; the elevators, which connect the 4th floor to the 350-meter observation deck and are named 'Spring', 'Summer', 'Autumn', and 'Winter', had previously experienced similar malfunctions on two separate occasions. In one case in 2015, a malfunction was traced back to a faulty door sensor, while the cause of an incident in 2017 remains unidentified.
Toshiba Elevator, based in Kawasaki City and the manufacturer of the elevators, publicly apologized for the distress caused to the trapped visitors and reassured that they are prioritizing an investigation into the incident. The affected elevators, known as 'Autumn' and 'Winter', were last inspected prior to the incident, with no irregularities detected. The operational entity, Tobu Tower Sky Tree, confirmed that all trapped individuals were safely rescued by emergency services by 2 AM on the 23rd.
The elevators are described as custom-built models, capable of reaching the observation deck at a speed of 600 meters per minute in approximately 50 seconds. This latest incident raises concerns about the long-term reliability and safety of the elevators at one of Japan's most celebrated landmarks, as it has experienced similar problems in the past, emphasizing the importance of rigorous maintenance and thorough investigation to ensure public confidence in such high-traffic facilities.
