Fire breaks out at Nippon Steel plant in Hokkaido, no injuries reported

This photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows the site of a fire at a Nippon Steel Corp. plant in Muroran, Hokkaido, on Dec. 1, 2025. (Kyodo)

SAPPORO (Kyodo) — A fire broke out early Monday at a plant operated by Nippon Steel Corp. in Hokkaido, northern Japan, with no reports of injuries, local authorities said.

According to the police, the fire department and Nippon Steel, the blaze occurred in a hot blast stove that sends hot air to a blast furnace for iron extraction. The fire did not spread beyond the plant, they said, adding that an investigation is under way to determine how it started.

An emergency call was made at around 12:55 a.m. by a neighbor who heard an explosion at the plant in Muroran, the fire department said.

The 4.33-million-square-meter steel plant, which manufactures auto-related parts for engines and drivetrains, was operating when the fire broke out, according to Nippon Steel. The company said it is determining the impact of the fire on its operations.