Taxi Hit as Building Wall Collapses Near Osaka Expressway, Two Injured

OSAKA, Japan: A section of the exterior wall from a four-storey building suddenly collapsed near a tollgate along the Hanshin Motorway loop line in Osaka’s Chuo Ward on Sunday night, injuring two people after debris struck a passing taxi.

The incident occurred at approximately 9:30 p.m., causing panic in the busy urban area as concrete fragments and building materials crashed onto the roadway below.

According to local authorities, the falling debris hit a moving taxi carrying a female passenger in her 20s. She suffered minor injuries and was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. The taxi driver, a man in his 70s, also reportedly experienced pain in his leg following the impact.

Witnesses said pieces of the damaged wall were scattered across several lanes, temporarily disrupting traffic near the tollgate area.

Emergency crews and police officers quickly arrived at the scene to clear the debris and secure the surrounding area amid concerns over possible structural instability.

The Osaka Prefectural Police have launched an investigation to determine what caused the wall to collapse. Authorities are also examining the condition of the ageing building and whether safety inspections had been properly conducted prior to the incident.

No fatalities were reported.