The World Exposition in Osaka opened 30 minutes later than usual at 9.30am local time ( 8.30 am Singapore time) on Aug 14, following disruptions to the local metro service that left large numbers of visitors stranded in the area well into the night before .

The opening time was brought forward from the earlier planned 10am, as there was a large build-up of visitors in front of the entrance gate, the organisers said.

The Osaka Metro’s Chuo Line, which offers sole direct train access from the city centre to the expo site on Yumeshima, an artificial island, resumed at around 5.25am after a power failure hit the line at 9.30pm on Aug 13.

After the subway malfunction, expo visitors planning to exit via the eastern gate, which is connected to Yumeshima Station, were asked to remain inside the site.

People were seen sitting in rows beneath the expo’s giant wooden structure, known as the Grand Ring, as midnight approached. Buses transported some visitors away from the site and others were able to access a tram line from a different station.

A total of 36 people were taken to hospital by the morning of Aug 14 due to suspected heatstroke or other symptoms, but none of the cases were serious, local authorities said.

As it is the only train service providing direct access to the expo venue, the Chuo Line is used by around 70 per cent of visitors, according to the operator.

The expo is being held between April 13 and Oct 13, with its usual opening hours set between 9am to 10pm. KYODO NEWS

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