JAPAN: In the Dotombori shopping district on Monday a building fire claimed the lives of two firefighters and injured four others, according to local police and fire officials, the Straights Times and other international media report.
According to Japan News, the fire started out around 9:50 a.m. on the first floor of a riverside building along the Dotonbori River, prompting an immediate response from the Osaka Municipal Fire Department. As crews battled the flames, the fire spread to a neighboring structure, complicating containment efforts.
Among those responding were two male firefighters, aged 55 and 22, who became trapped inside. Both were rushed to the hospital but were later pronounced dead, according to Osaka prefectural police.
According to Asahi.com, the two firefighters from the Naniwa fire station were found on the sixth floor of the building. Three other firefighters in their 20s and 30s and a woman in her 20s were taken to a hospital, Osaka prefectural police said. Their conditions are not considered life-threatening.
Four others — including a woman and three additional firefighters — were also hospitalized. Fortunately, their injuries are not considered life-threatening.
The fire broke out in a commercial building in one of Osaka’s most popular tourist areas and quickly spread to an adjacent structure. Firefighters responding to the emergency became trapped inside during the operation. Despite rescue efforts, two were later pronounced dead at the hospital.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Authorities have cordoned off the area and are working to assess structural damage and prevent further risk.
The incident has cast a somber mood over the city, with tributes pouring in for the fallen responders who gave their lives in the line of duty.
Photo Credit: Flickr Creative Commons License
Cecil Lee
Dotonbori area in Namba district is the downtown of Osaka that represents the vibrancy and lliveliness of this Japan city.
Uploaded on November 10, 2012
Taken on May 8, 2012
AloJapan.com