OSAKA - A fire broke out in a building in Osaka’s Dotonbori district on Monday morning and was largely extinguished by shortly before 1 p.m., but two firefighters lost their lives while battling the blaze.
Flames burst through the building’s windows as thick black smoke rose into the sky.
Around 9:50 a.m., police received a report from an employee at a nearby shop in Chuo Ward’s Soemoncho area saying, “There’s a fire.” The blaze spread to an adjacent structure, engulfing both a five-story and a seven-story building.
A woman working at a nearby restaurant said, “There was suddenly a huge booming explosion, and then flames shot up right after.” A man working in another restaurant nearby added, “Smoke filled the place and fire was coming out from inside—I was shocked.”
The scene, a popular tourist spot near Ebisu Bridge often crowded with international visitors, was quickly sealed off by police, causing confusion in the area.
One office worker recalled, “Fire trucks and ambulances kept arriving one after another, with sirens nonstop. The black smoke was intense, so I thought it must be a major fire.”
According to police and fire officials, 63 fire vehicles were mobilized. After nearly three hours of firefighting, the blaze was almost extinguished by early afternoon.
The fire also sent a woman in her 20s, who was in a nearby restaurant, to the hospital after inhaling smoke. Five male firefighters were also transported for treatment. Among them, fire commander Takashi Mori, 55, and firefighter Kosei Nagatomo, 22, both from the Naniwa Fire Department, were confirmed dead.
Authorities said the two had been trapped inside the building during operations. They were later found on the sixth floor and rescued by fellow firefighters, but their lives could not be saved.
Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama of Osaka said, “It is truly heartbreaking that firefighters lost their lives in the line of duty. I pray for their souls and will work to strengthen firefighting capabilities and prevent such tragedies in the future.”
Police and fire authorities are investigating the cause of the blaze and the circumstances at the time.
Source: TBS
