2nd LD: Writethru: 6 passengers rushed to hospital in Tokyo after complaining of "caustic smell" at train station

Six commuters were rushed to hospital during rush hour on Wednesday after multiple passengers traveling on the Seibu Shinjuku Line complained of sore throats and coughing at Tokyo's Takadanobaba Station after smelling something they described as "caustic" and similar to paint thinner or another chemical, Tokyo police officials said.

Emergency personnel were quickly dispatched to Takadanobaba Station located in Tokyo's expansive Shinjuku ward, situated between the commercial districts of Ikebukuro and Shinjuku, at around 5:45 p.m. local time, following emergency calls from station officials, local media reported.

The officials said that some commuters were complaining of "feeling bad" while coughing and saying their throats felt sore or irritated after smelling "something strange."

The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department has not ruled out the possibility that a substance such as paint thinner could have been dispersed at the station, or some form of chemical accidentally spilled at the busy transportation hub in central Tokyo.

As many as 9 people were taken to a separate room at the station to receive emergency medical care by Seibu Railway staff immediately after the incident, six of whom were then rushed to hospital, local media reported.

The area around the station has been cordoned off, with certain access restricted to rescue officials.

But while a heavy presence of police, fire department and ambulances remain on the scene carrying out investigations, the incident did not cause the train's operator to suspend its service. Endit