Two passengers, one male and one female, died Tuesday in an apparent self-immolation aboard a speeding bullet train south of Tokyo.

The man, identified as Haruo Hayashizaki, a 71-year-old resident of Suginami Ward, Tokyo, was near the entrance doors at the front of the Nozomi 225's lead car when he poured a flammable liquid from a white plastic tank over his head and set it alight, police said.

The man's corpse was badly charred, the police said, adding they were trying to confirm other circumstances around the incident.