Tanna Tunnel

tunnel, Japan

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Last updated

July 14, 2026

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The Tanna Tunnel, constructed in Japan during the 1920s, was a significant engineering challenge. The tunnel's construction was plagued by numerous and severe water inflows. One such inflow resulted in the deaths of 16 workers and trapped 17 others, who were eventually rescued after seven days. Another major inflow later drowned several workers. To overcome these difficulties, Japanese engineers developed a parallel drainage tunnel along the entire length of the main tunnel. They also employed compressed-air tunneling with a shield and airlocks, a method rarely used in mountain tunneling.1

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tunnels and underground excavations
Canal and railroad tunnels
…notorious was the first Japanese Tanna Tunnel, driven through the Takiji Peak in the 1920s. The engineers and crews had to cope with a long succession of extremely large inflows, the first of which killed 16 men and buried 17 others, who were rescued after seven days of tunneling through…
Read More
…notorious was the first Japanese Tanna Tunnel, driven through the Takiji Peak in the 1920s. The engineers and crews had to cope with a long succession of extremely large inflows, the first of which killed 16 men and buried 17 others, who were rescued after seven days of tunneling through…
Read More