Russian embassy car collides with another car near Japan's Foreign Ministry; four hurt
In short
A car belonging to the Russian embassy in Japan collided with another car near the Japanese Foreign Ministry building in Tokyo on October 8, and four people were injured, Kyodo and Japanese media reported. The embassy said there were no fatalities and that those involved were undergoing medical examinations.
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A car belonging to the Russian embassy in Japan collided with another car near the Japanese Foreign Ministry building in Tokyo on October 8, injuring four people, Kyodo and other Japanese media reported. The embassy told RIA Novosti there were no fatalities and that those involved were undergoing medical examinations. "A car belonging to the Russian embassy in Japan was involved in a traffic accident. There are no fatalities; those involved are undergoing medical examinations," the embassy said, according to RIA Novosti. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
Vedomosti, citing Kyodo, reported that the accident happened at about 17:30 local time (11:30 Moscow time) in central Tokyo, and that a car with Russian diplomatic plates hit a civilian passenger car as it was leaving the grounds of the Japanese Foreign Ministry. According to police, the four people suffered minor injuries, Vedomosti reported. RIA Novosti, citing Japanese media, said all four were conscious and their lives were not in danger. [ 2 , 3 ]
Reports differ on the ages of those involved. RIA Novosti said the embassy car carried a Russian woman aged 30 to 39 and the other car three men aged 20 to 49. Vedomosti said the car with diplomatic plates carried a 30-year-old woman and the other car three men aged 20 to 40. [ 2 , 3 ]
Vedomosti initially described the vehicle as presumably an embassy car and reported that the Russian Foreign Ministry later confirmed it belonged to the Russian embassy in Japan. "There was a traffic accident; all its participants are alive and are now undergoing medical examination," the ministry said, according to Vedomosti. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
The incident involved a vehicle with Russian diplomatic plates outside the Japanese Foreign Ministry, and both the Russian embassy and the Russian Foreign Ministry commented on it. The injuries reported were minor, according to Japanese police as cited by Vedomosti.
Key facts
- A car belonging to the Russian embassy in Japan was involved in a traffic accident in Tokyo. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- Two cars collided near the Japanese Foreign Ministry building. [ 2 , 5 , 6 ]
- Four people were injured. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 ]
- The Russian embassy said there were no fatalities and those involved were undergoing medical examinations. [ 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- According to police cited by Vedomosti, the four suffered minor injuries. [ 3 ]
- A Russian woman was in the embassy car and three men were in the other car. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Vedomosti reported the accident happened at about 17:30 local time in central Tokyo. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- A car belonging to the Russian embassy in Japan was involved in a traffic accident in Tokyo. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The accident happened near the Japanese Foreign Ministry building, where two cars collided. [ 2 , 5 , 6 ]
- Four people were injured. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 ]
- There were no fatalities and those involved were undergoing medical examinations, according to the Russian side. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Still unclear
- The ages of the people involved. RIA Novosti reported a woman aged 30 to 39 in the embassy car and three men aged 20 to 49 in the other car; Vedomosti reported a 30-year-old woman and men aged 20 to 40.
- The time of the accident, about 17:30 local time. Only Vedomosti gives a time.
- The number of injured. TASS, citing Kyodo, said at least four people were hurt; other outlets say four.
- How the collision happened. Only Vedomosti describes it, saying the car with Russian diplomatic plates hit a civilian car as it was leaving the grounds of the Japanese Foreign Ministry.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- The accident occurs in central Tokyo at about 17:30 Tokyo time (11:30 Moscow time), according to Vedomosti. [ 3 ]
- TASS reports, citing Kyodo, an accident in Tokyo involving a Russian embassy car with at least four injured. [ 1 ]
- RIA Novosti reports the Russian embassy's statement that there were no fatalities and those involved were undergoing medical examinations. [ 2 ]
- TASS reports that the Russian embassy confirmed the accident involving its car. [ 4 ]