A 500-ton concrete counterweight fell from about 30 metres at a steel mill in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture on Tuesday, causing a scaffolding collapse and killing three workers, with one still missing after plunging into the sea. ADVERTISEMENT SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENTThe accident occurred around 4.15pm at the JFE Steel East Japan Works in the Keihin district. Workers were dismantling a large unloading crane used for handling iron ore when the cylindrical concrete counterweight, measuring six metres in diameter and nine metres long, fell for unknown reasons. Workers were operating heavy machinery to break up concrete on the counterweight at the time of the fall. JFE Steel said it would fully cooperate with the investigation, with dismantling work in the affected area suspended.

Source: The Standard April 09, 2026 06:48 UTC