TOKYO: Forty-seven people, mostly foreign nationals, sustained injuries on Saturday after a tour bus rear-ended another on an expressway in western Tokyo, according to police.

Kyodo News Agency reported that none of the injuries were life-threatening. The accident occurred around 10:15 am near the mouth of the Kobotoke Tunnel on the Chuo Expressway in Hachioji.

The buses, operated by the same company, were en route from JR Tokyo Station to Lake Kawaguchi in Yamanashi Prefecture. It is believed that heavy traffic caused repeated starting and stopping, leading to the rear bus colliding with the one ahead when its driver failed to brake in time.

The incident temporarily closed outbound lanes between Hachioji Junction and Sagamiko Interchange, according to Central Nippon Expressway Co.