Twenty people, including two children, were rescued in the early hours of Monday (Feb 23) after being trapped for more than five hours in a stalled lift at Tokyo Skytree.
The incident occurred on Sunday evening (Feb 22) when one of the elevators inside the 634-metre broadcasting and observation tower in Sumida Ward came to a sudden stop at about 30 metres above ground level. All passengers were safely evacuated and no injuries were reported, according to local media.
Lift Malfunction During Descent
The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department received an emergency call at around 8.20pm alerting authorities that a lift had broken down with passengers inside, Kyodo News reported.
Tower operator Tobu Tower Skytree Co. said that at approximately 8.15pm, two of the four elevators operating between the fourth-floor entrance and the Tembo Deck observation area, located 350 metres above ground, had activated emergency stops.
One of the affected lifts was descending with 20 passengers on board when the malfunction occurred, while the other had no occupants.
As a precautionary measure, the remaining two lifts were halted for roughly an hour to undergo inspections. The suspension temporarily left about 1,200 visitors stranded at the observation deck and other sections of the tower.
Rescue Completed in 18 Minutes
Although the breakdown happened shortly after 8pm, rescue operations began only at 1.44am and were completed by about 2.02am, some five and a half hours later. The extraction itself took around 18 minutes, reported The Asahi Shimbun.
Rescuers positioned another lift adjacent to the stalled cabin and installed a narrow connecting bridge, measuring about 1.5 metres, between the two elevators. Passengers were then transferred through emergency doors to safety.
All 20 individuals were brought out without incident.
Visitors Describe Stifling Conditions
The disruption also affected visitors who were waiting to board or already at the observation deck, as lift services remained suspended.
A woman in her 40s from Osaka Prefecture told The Asahi Shimbun that an announcement at about 8.30pm cited strong winds as the reason for the suspension, stating that elevators had been stopped for safety checks.
A company employee in his 20s described the atmosphere as crowded and uncomfortable, while another visitor from Chiba Prefecture said drinks were distributed to children and elderly guests, though supplies eventually ran out.
“We didn’t know when we could leave,” the visitor said, expressing concern about the possibility of another malfunction.
Some visitors, fatigued from the prolonged wait, were seen sitting on the floor as they awaited updates.
Tower Closed for Safety Checks
The operator announced that Tokyo Skytree would remain closed on Monday (Feb 23), a national holiday typically marked by high visitor numbers, to facilitate a full inspection of all elevator systems.
The company apologised for the inconvenience and said investigations are under way to determine the cause of the malfunction. It also pledged to enhance maintenance protocols and strengthen safety management to prevent a recurrence.
