This Article is From Dec 17, 2018

Over 40 Injured In Explosion At Bar In Japan, Cops Suspect Propane Tanks

There was no immediate word on the cause of the blast, which the agency said had caused a number of buildings to collapse.

Over 40 Injured In Explosion At Bar In Japan, Cops Suspect Propane Tanks

Eyewitnesses reported smelling gas in the area following the explosion, agency said.

Tokyo:

Police and fire officials on Monday were searching for the cause of a dramatic explosion in the northern Japanese city of Sapporo that collapsed a building and injured 42 people.

Media reports said the Sunday night incident may have involved propane gas tanks in the building where the blast occurred. Sapporo police and fire officials said it was too early to say anything certain about the cause of the explosion.

Video posted on social media showed flames shooting up into the sky and debris-strewn streets.

"I heard a bang which sounded like thunder, and my condo was shaken," a man who lived nearby was quoted as saying by the Japan Times.

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There was no immediate word on the cause of the blast.

One man suffered burns to his face but his life was not in danger, the police said. Most of the others were treated for superficial injuries.

Kyodo news agency reported that fire inspectors two months ago found that most of the building's tenants lacked evacuation gear as well as devices to warn of electrical short circuits.



(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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