An total of 1,211 defects have been detected in an expressway tunnel in central Japan where part of the ceiling collapsed in December, killing nine, the government was quoted as saying Wednesday by a news report.
Many of the metal bolts fixing the panels to the Sasago tunnel's inner wall on the Chuo Expressway had come loose, Jiji Press said, citing a recent inspection by the Transport Ministry. Some of the bolts were missing altogether.
Several concrete panels came detached from the side of the tunnel on December 2, crushing vehicles and starting a fire.
Central Nippon Expressway Co, the operator of the 35-year-old highway, said soon after the accident that it had not detected any defects during a regular inspection in September.
The accident prompted the ministry to impose emergency inspections on expressway operators of all tunnels with suspended ceiling panels.