JAPAN: Rescue workers continued to look for possible survivors after a blast kills one, injures several and possibly traps more at a Tokyo hotspring

Record ID: 276999

  • Title: JAPAN: Rescue workers continued to look for possible survivors after a blast kills one, injures several and possibly traps more at a Tokyo hotspring
  • Date: 19th June 2007
  • Summary: MEDIA HELICOPTERS HOVERING ABOVE POLICE STANDING BY EMERGENCY VANS STANDING BY
  • Embargoed: 4th July 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Japan
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes
  • Reuters ID: LVA23GIFHEYJEN6CR7JT91WAI8OK
  • Story Text: Rescue workers continued to look through the rubble in downtown Tokyo on Tuesday (June 19) after an explosion ripped through a women's-only hot spring spa, killing at least one woman and injuring at least four other people.
    Japanese media report that rescue workers suspect one more person may have been trapped after the annex to the spa's main building exploded, sending the roof and walls of the building flying.
    Live TV cameras showed workers carrying out at least one injured person and others searching the debris under and around the building -- only the metal skeleton of which remained.
    At least six ambulances and 10 fire engines were at the site.
    "At first I thought lightning had struck and looked around and saw nothing. Then when I worked on my car, I smelled something bad and saw fine white dust and smoke covering my car and turning it white," said Takashi Ichinose, a witness close to site when the building exploded.
    At least one nearby building also appeared to have suffered damage.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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