Video: Wonfes Escalator Accident
Was posted before but this time we have video.
These folks were the first ones in meaning that they lined up all night - and some got squashed for their efforts and lead away to be attended to. I bet that some of them were more miffed that they didn't get their limited editions rather than their bruises.
Original text from animes below.
There was an accident, some of my friends went there and a lot of ambulances went inside wonder fest, it seems like there was an accident with the electric escalator at 10 am, they let too much people to use the escalator and then suddenly stopped and 10 persons got injured.
More videos HERE
Via : AnimeNarutard
If you are interested in reading about life in Japan, seeing photos taken daily around Tokyo, like Japanese subculture (anime, manga, figures, Dollfies) then you may want to start delving into the Japan or Figure categories for a start or have a gander at all photo articles.
If you don't have much time now, maybe subscribe to the RSS Feed, Twitter Feed or join the other readers in the FaceBook Page.
Alternatively, you may want to read more about the site.
If you are a regular reader then this message will probably annoy you each time - hide it forever.
-Akihabara News – Gadgetry from Japan (Subscribe)
student, vexillologist
http://twitter.com/zscout370
Your friends ok?
Student
http://bk201.wordpress.com/
That is pretty epic. Crazy that people want to squeeze so many people on those escalators.
オタク all day long
http://www.nekomagic.com
I think that's really normal to have that many ppl on the escalators in the busy hours man.
mahou kishi
http://www.animedia.com.mx
yeah they are right, they went in fact at 10 pm, but they saw the ambulances and the troubles when they where in the line, they entered to the event at 12 pm, so that pic was taken at 12 pm, I didnt see the past post danny sorry for the trouble but at least we have the video to stop the rumors, because some other places says the escalator fall and things like that
Stocker
http://www.sigfigs.org/
That situation "escalated" pretty quickly
OH HO HO HO
Student/Freelance Programmer
"He that would pun, would pick a pocket", specially those with that laugh <.<
Stocker
http://www.sigfigs.org/
I'm not catching your drift.
Student/Freelance Programmer
Meaning that he who would make a distasteful pun wouldn't have seconds thoughts of picking a pocket(i.e. doing something evil). The laugh just reminded me of Renge from Ouran Koukou, in that she's very outspoken and looks evil when angry :P
I found the pun rather funny myself, albeit kinda wrong to laugh considering what happened ^^;
Stocker
http://www.sigfigs.org/
I never implied that the incident was humorous in any fashion. Only that I enjoy a good pun.
lecherous wretch
http://graeble.deviantart.com/
i'm sure the injuries were minor, so...laugh all you want. that was a nice pun.
Working Otaku mom
http://riianadoon.blogspot.com
Wow I didn't think you can fit that many people on an escalator, I could see why there'd be an accident.
lecherous wretch
http://graeble.deviantart.com/
seriously!
i dont wanna say they deserved it but, i'm sure their minds were totally blinded by the fun they were gonna be having just up the stairs.
Scientist, unemployed.
http://fmphoenixhawk.livejournal.com
Never seen the escalators back when GenCon was in Milwaukee then. Before they built the new place, the MECCA convention center's escalators would be jammed like that. But instead of sliding back, they would just lock and become stairs.
Student
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kmyk88
wow scary how many people were on that escalator
http://animaticfigmation.com/
That had to suck for the ones that were injured, all that waiting just to have that happen :/
Student & Authorized Chicken Slapper
http://www.otakuinternational.com
talk about dangerous. I wanted to be there badly but not in that situation
Mechanical Engineering student
http://sabekujikaneda.multiply.com/
O_o Why did they let so many people climb the escalator at once anyway? It just goes to show that we have to be careful wherever we go, even at conventions x_x
free lance otaku, full time Protector of Peace.
i was at a computer stall when I saw the news. Didn't know what happen, but saw the katakana for escalator and somehow, the area look quite familiar. I was going "zomg..better not be wonfes.." but somehow, it did. Lucky no one was hurt.
Programmer, Web Developer / Web Designer
http://xenohawk.wordpress.com/
Wow, I didn't expect that many people were on that escalator at the same time. I think that is the ambulance/rescue (it was red, probably rescue) I heard when I was going in, I thought someone must have fainted from the heat or something.
Hikikomori in the making
http://supermariabros.deviantart.com/
Yesterday, I heard that 50 people got hurt... This morning in the local papers they downed the nmber to 20... Luckily, only 10 people got hurt...
I wonder if anyone used the commotion to get their limited edition figures...
University Student
http://plurk.com/Fuyumachi/invite
Hearing the other rumors such as falling down of the escalator etc, i am somehow glad that this accident is not as severe as my imagination O_o
organ donor
though im relieved it doesnt look too disasterous
i admit i was secretly hoping for a "domino effect" , if u know what i mean ;p
Video Reviewer of Anime Figures, Mecha and Merch (youtube.com/user/Actar576295)
http://actar.wordpress.com
This same accident happened in Singapore quite awhile back. Somehow, something broke, and the upward moving escalators reversed due to gravity. Everyone just fell back suddenly and some were injurd.
student
It looks like the up escalator was just like, "TIME TO GO DOWN!" and then more and more people just collapsed on each other. The few people that got hurt must have been at the bottom of the escalator when it quickly reversed. Seriously, that must really sucked to have been at the bottom.
Student
http://anime.tedfox.com/
from the video, it looks like they let too many people on the escalator.
admittedly, it's hard to stop a stampede of otakus dying to lay their hands on those sweet stuff, i can understand their eagerness but man, i sure wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of that escalator.
kudos to the lone guard who was trying to help everyone!
http://flickr.com/photos/sklyanchuk/
There were several quards if my eyes don't deceive me. And what a nice reaction they have! In France the police would lazily approach and start ordering around... and in Russia... well... I doubt they'd do anything instead of making a *geeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee* pose.
Admin
This reminds me of that Comiket episode in Lucky Star where all the otakus are rushing forward like a tidal wave for the limited edition stuff.
Just look at how packed that escalator was, amazing that the weight of so many people can cause the escalator to give way to gravity and roll downwards, otherwise, I can think of no other reason for this to happen.
Good thing no one was hurt too seriously.
Spartan
http://www.ryobase.com
that's epic. If I were in that situation I'd jump off the escalator like that guy in video.
Engineer by weekdays, Hikki by weekends
http://ejump.wordpress.com/
i has the feeling someone activated the escalator.
just my feeling.
glad no one dies.
imagine to be crushed by otakus =__=
銀河帝国五〇一軍团 TK/TD 8316 M.E.P.D. Police Sergeant
http://gordonator.com/
just saw this on the local TV news just now.
Seeing red!!!
I blame the fat people that dared to ride on the escalator...
Lurker
Normal stairs for the win!
銀河帝国五〇一軍团 TK/TD 8316 M.E.P.D. Police Sergeant
http://gordonator.com/
yes indeed. faster too.
http://flickr.com/photos/sklyanchuk/
Having spent 4 hours at a MangaExpo in Paris I stepped on the escalator and thought: "oh my poor legs, I'm so happy it's not just normal stairs" :P
It's a human avalanche
Study Services Analyst
http://nrshenanigans.blogspot.com/
Is that really the only way to enter the place? One set of escalators? There has to be regular steps or some more escalators to alleviate the large flow of people using the same escalator.
part time illustrationist, doll clothing seamstress
http://puppy52art.com/
I fell and scrapped my knee (lightly) on the escalator back in singapore before, not fun :P
Student/Evil Overlord
AFAIK, the standard escalator has a 100hp motor to power it. Maybe its time to crank it up to 200??? ;p
http://flickr.com/photos/sklyanchuk/
Or just limit the number of people that can step on it. That's way cheaper ;)
Student/Evil Overlord
Apparently that wasn't enforced very well and monitoring the XX number of escalators might be too much for the security people. Cranking it up will guarantee safety even in the worst case. Safety first after all, even cost comes only as secondary. But come to think of it, wouldn't it be more convenient if they would just develop an overload warning in escalators just like the ones in elevators today?
http://flickr.com/photos/sklyanchuk/
Nah, no need to monitor. Put a fence that can let only one person step on the escalator at the same time. On normal days remove the fence and on crowded days install it. Pretty easy and cheap.
Dropping computers, starting all over again at Journalism
http://xspblog.com
Yeah... wonder how people didn't think of something like that happening before...
Everytime I saw videos of the Wonfes or Comike opennings, I always thought that something like that could happen.
Not only the escalators failing, but also with people being thrown down through the shafts.
Anyways, hope there were no serious injuries.
Compounder
Always take the stairs.
It's good exercise, and things like this won't happen.
E^D
Multimedia Developer/Designer
That reminds me of a field trip to a career fair when I was in the last year of elementary school (grade 7).
The fair was hosted in a new office building at the top floors. At the end of the trip my school starts to proceed to the elevators, but one person working for the career fair shoved and crammed a whole lot of us into the elevator. When the door closed, barely clipping the last students, something went wrong and the elevator went up (we were already at the top floors) and stopped operating. We didn't know if it was a malfunction or some safety protocol.
We were stuck in the elevator for almost 2 hours, everyone sweating from all the body heat. It was so packed that no one could even squat. One girl actually fainted and the surrounding students had to hold her up.
The only good thing was that I was leaning against a classmate with big eyes :D Sadly, my back lost 'eye contact' after a good hour due to people squeezing and shifting around.
At the end of it all, we managed to board our school bus. Just when the bus started accelerating, the driver hit the brakes because he almost hit someone, and I flew forward from my seat and faceplanted to the metal backing of the seat infront of me. #:
NONE
I think too many people to be lifted up by escalator or not enough horse power. Well I should take stair if too many people take escalator just like that.
I have a feeling that they were more concerned with the possibility of crushing their limited edition items rather than broken bones.
The Sword of Magus
http://daichouginga.blogspot.com/
That reminds me of Madarame of Genshiken.
Avaranche!
Student
thats a lot of peeps. good thing nobody was hurt, but I love how the people who get off of the escalator just stand and watch...like the lady, she gets off but just stands right there watching...
Otaku Programmer/Gamer/Artist/Photographer
http://argylebolivar.wordpress.com
I've heard of this but i've never seen it!!! gahhh >____< too much ppl T___T
alunmi student
holy shit dammm >_> isnt there like a stop button for the escalator lol ._.