How this tiny slug stopped dozens of trains, delayed 12,000 people in Japan

A slug has been blamed for a power outage that halted dozens of trains and delayed 12,000 passengers in Japan.

The power failed on a couple of lines serving southern Japan operated by Kyushu Railway Co., known as JR Kyushu, on May 30.

The company was forced to cancel 26 train journeys and delay other services, causing chaos in a country known for the efficiency of its punctual transport systems.

Weeks after the power outage, JR Kyushu said they had found the culprit -- a slug, which had made its way into an electrical power device installed near rail tracks.

"We tracked down the device responsible for the power failure... We initially thought what's in there was a bug but it turned out to be a dead slug," a company spokesman told.

The slug had been burned to death after short-circuiting the device.