3-7-2023 (TOKYO) An explosion rocked a building in Tokyo’s Shimbashi district on Monday, leaving four people injured, according to the Tokyo Fire Department. Glass and debris were strewn across the scene, while smoke billowed from the second floor.
Following the explosion, a fire broke out but was later extinguished, and the injured individuals were promptly transported to a nearby hospital. The blast, originating from a bar on the building’s second floor, was reported at approximately 3:15 p.m.
According to the police, the manager of the bar stated that he was attempting to light a cigarette in the designated smoking area when the explosion occurred. Investigators are currently working to ascertain further details, as it is believed that the site was filled with gas.
The fire department confirmed that two of the injured individuals were employees of the second-floor bar, while the other two were passersby.
Shinobu Nakagawa, a 25-year-old staff member at the restaurant on the building’s first floor, shared his account of the incident. He stated, “I was busy with non-fire-related tasks, such as cutting vegetables and preparing the store, when I suddenly felt a strong shock originating from the floor above.” Nakagawa was alone at the time of the explosion.
Nakagawa further mentioned that he had noticed a faint smell of gas around 2:30 p.m. while on his way to the store. Upon entering the building, he realized the smell had intensified. He believes the explosion occurred shortly before 3 p.m.
JUST IN: An explosion in a building in Tokyo’s Shimbashi district. The #Tokyo Fire Department is battling the incident.
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The eight-story building, situated west of JR Shimbashi station, houses various establishments, including a restaurant called Torisuta on the first floor, a bar on the second floor, and clinics on the third and fourth floors.
At the time of the explosion, the second-floor bar was closed.
