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HOKKAIDO, JAPAN – AUG. 17: An emergency drill was conducted at Seikan Tunnel, the world's longest undersea tunnel in Japan, on Monday August 17, in a scenario in which a fire broke out from an express train and passengers had to exit out to the ground more than one hundred meters above. The exercise was held by Hokkaido Railway Co., JR Hokkaido, which plans to operate Japan's newest line of bullet train called Shinkansen in March next year. About 290 persons including the railway firm officials, police officers and firefighters attended the drill. The train stopped at Tappi Kaitei undersea station and persons acting as passengers were guided to a cable car leading to the exit to the ground level. The 53-kilometer tunnel connects Aomori Prefecture, on the northern tip of Honshu main-island, and the southern part of Hokkaido, northernmost main- island, running under Tsugaru Straight between the two islands.