Some 40 percent of subway stations in Japan fail to meet one or more fire-prevention safety standards, mainly because the stations are old, according to a transport ministry study released last week.
Inspections were made at 684 stations operated by municipal and private train operators following the Feb. 18 arson attack on a subway train in Taegu, South Korea, that killed more than 100 people.
The Land, Infrastructure and Transport Ministry said most of the 268 stations that failed to measure up were built before strict fire-prevention regulations were introduced by the government in 1975.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.