- Expoland
Expoland, located in
Osaka ,Japan , was opened as the amusement zone at theInternational Exposition in 1970(Expo '70 ) and thrived over 30 years as anamusement park . There are more than 40 rides and attractions, 19 restaurants and shops.On
May 5 ,2007 , 19-year-old Yoshino Kogawara from Higashiomi, Shiga was killed and nineteen other guests injured when the Fujin Raijin II derailed at Expoland inSuita , Osaka. Initial reports said that forty people were injured, with thirty-one being taken to the hospital. [cite news
url =http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/national/news/20070505p2a00m0na012000c.html
title = Female passenger dies after seats fall off roller coaster
publisher = Mainichi Interactive/MSN
date = 2007-05-05
accessdate = 2007-05-07] An investigation revealed that the ride derailed due to a broken axle. None of the ride vehicle's axles had been replaced for fifteen years. [cite news
url =http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/national/news/20070507p2a00m0na014000c.html
title = Amusement park failed to replace axles of roller coaster in fatal crash for 15 years
publisher = Mainichi Interactive/MSN
date = 2007-05-07
accessdate = 2007-05-07] Following this accident, similar coasters at other Japanese parks were voluntarily shut down and inspected to see if they could also have the same axle flaw. [cite news
url =http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/national/news/20070507p2a00m0na011000c.html
title = Kumamoto amusement park shuts down roller coaster after deadly Osaka accident
publisher = Mainichi Interactive/MSN
date = 2007-05-07
accessdate = 2007-05-07] Expoland was cited by authorities for faulty maintenance when similar axle cracks were found on a second train a month later. [cite news
url =http://www.inform.kz/showarticle.php?lang=eng&id=152953
title = Cracked axle found on roller coaster
publisher = Kazinform
date = 2007-06-25
accessdate = 2007-06-26]The park reopened after the accident, but closed again on the 9th of December 2007, citing a lack of customers. It is currently undergoing major renovations.
References
External links
* [http://www.expoland.co.jp/eng/index.html Official website]
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