OSAKA (Kyodo) A concrete utility pole fell on a house Tuesday in Moriguchi, Osaka Prefecture, breaking about 30 roof tiles, but no one was hurt, police said.
According to the Moriguchi Police Station, the incident occurred at 5:10 a.m.
"I was asleep, and all of a sudden I heard a sound as if lightning struck and felt a shock. When I went out to see what happened, I saw a utility pole lying in front of my house," said a 67-year-old woman who lives in the house.
The 12-meter-high pole is maintained by Kansai Electric Power Co. Police said metal elements inside the pole may have corroded, but they were still investigating.
The pole was produced in 1982 and has been inspected on a regular basis. There is no set replacement period for utility poles, Kansai Electric officials said.
The accident occurred in a residential area some 600 meters from Keihan Electric Railway's Owada Station.