1956 Yahiko Shrine stampede
1956 human stampede in Japan
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Just after midnight in the morning of 1 January 1956 a human crowd crush and stampede at the Yahiko Shrine, Yahiko, Japan resulted in the death of 124 individuals and 75 others were injured.
 The coffin of a victim being carried out from Yahiko Shrine | |
 | |
| Date | 1 January 1956 |
|---|---|
| Location | Yahiko Shrine, Yahiko, Japan |
| Coordinates | 37°42′23″N 138°49′36″E |
| Participants | 35000–40000 |
| Deaths | 124 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 75 |
| Property damage | collapsed shrine stone walls |
Stampede
Around midnight of 1 January 1956, 35,000 to 40,000 people visited the Yahiko Shrine to pay the traditional honors on the occasion of the new year.[1] Just after midnight a stampede occurred on the steep steps leading to the shrine at the moment the priest started throwing down rice cookies, according to the tradition. The two-metres high stone walls on the sides of the stair collapsed due to the pushing by crowd. People were buried under the stones or fell down.[2]
Initial reports listed 112 deaths and 50 injured people.[3][4] These numbers later increased to 124 deaths and 75 injured people.[5]
