A power failure on Osaka Metro’s Central Line left roughly 30,000 people unable to leave the Osaka–Kansai Expo site on the artificial island of Yumeshima on the night of 13 August. With the only rail link to the venue out of service from about 9:30 p.m., many visitors spent the night on benches, lawns and inside pavilions that were opened as makeshift shelters. Osaka Metro said the outage was traced to the “third rail” that supplies electricity to trains. An insulating sheet covering a joint had lost its effectiveness after being contaminated by iron dust and moisture, cutting off power. Engineers removed the sheet and restored electricity, allowing trains to resume operations shortly after 5 a.m. on 14 August. Senior officials from Osaka Metro, the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition and Osaka Prefecture Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura issued public apologies, acknowledging inadequate information for stranded passengers. The Expo organiser treated the disruption as a disaster-level event, distributing drinking water and food while pavilions from countries including Germany and the Netherlands handed out snacks and offered indoor space. The Expo opened to visitors at 10 a.m.—about an hour later than scheduled—prompting long queues at entrance gates. The incident underlined concerns over the site’s limited transport options and prompted the Association to review contingency plans and communication protocols ahead of expected peak crowds later in the six-month fair.