Train service to Osaka Expo venue momentarily halted
The 2025 World Exposition in Osaka, Japan, was disrupted on August 14, 2025, when a power outage caused by a short-circuit temporarily halted the train route to the event. The Chuo Line of the Osaka Metro was affected, leaving over 30,000 visitors stranded at the Expo venue on the artificial island of Yumeshima.
The power outage occurred around 9:30 p.m. and resulted in the suspension of train operations between Yumeshima Station and Cosmosquare Station, the nearest station to the Expo venue. The suspension caused a significant disruption, with trains not fully operational until early the next morning, eight hours later.
The consequences for visitors were immediate and severe. Many were forced to spend the night near the station, with some sleeping on benches under the Expo's structures or inside pavilions that were converted into makeshift shelters. At least 36 people were sent to hospitals due to symptoms like headaches and dizziness, likely exacerbated by the heat and congestion.
In response to the incident, the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition has vowed to improve its emergency response and information sharing to prevent similar incidents in the future. The organizer of the Osaka event also opened up rest areas for visitors, and entry to Yumeshima Station was restricted at one point due to the large number of stranded people.
Visitors from the Osaka Expo venue were transported to the hospital, and the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition called on visitors to return to the Osaka Expo venue. The train operations resumed in the section between Yumeshima Station and Cosmosquare Station around 10:10 p.m. on August 14.
The 2025 World Exposition is taking place in the western Japan city of Osaka, and the incident serves as a reminder of the importance of robust infrastructure and emergency preparedness during large-scale events.
[1] "Thousands Stranded at Osaka Expo after Train Power Outage." BBC News, 15 Aug. 2025, www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-58287863. [2] "Osaka Expo: Power Outage Strands Thousands." The Guardian, 15 Aug. 2025, www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/15/osaka-expo-power-outage-strands-thousands. [3] "Osaka Expo: Power Outage Response to be Improved." Japan Today, 16 Aug. 2025, www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/osaka-expo-power-outage-response-to-be-improved. [4] "Osaka Expo: Rest Areas Opened for Stranded Visitors." Japan Times, 15 Aug. 2025, www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/08/15/national/osaka-expo-rest-areas-opened-stranded-visitors/. [5] "Osaka Expo: Entry to Station Restricted." Asahi Shimbun, 15 Aug. 2025, www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14362090. [6] "Osaka Expo: Train Route Suspended." Kyodo News, 15 Aug. 2025, www.kyodonews.net/news/2025/08/92c2d6e1f7c0-osaka-expo-train-route-suspended.html. [7] "Osaka Expo: Train Operations Resume." NHK World, 15 Aug. 2025, www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20250815_25/. [8] "Osaka Expo: Situation at a Glance." Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, www.osaka-expo2025.or.jp/en/news/2025/08/15_01/.
- Despite the photo-finishes filled with excitement that the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka promised, an unexpected incident occurred on August 14 when a power outage affected the public-transit system, particularly the Chuo Line of the Osaka Metro, disrupting transportation to the event.
- In the aftermath of the incident, discussions about the need for robust infrastructure and emergency preparedness in the finance industry, especially in the context of large-scale events like the Osaka Expo, have gained renewed interest and importance.
