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A deadly blaze at a building in Osaka, Japan, may have been caused by an arsonist, police suspect, as the death toll rises above 25. Investigators have launched a major investigation to determine the cause of the fire, which started at about 10 a.m. local time.
At least 27 people are confirmed to have died in the incident, which began on the fourth floor of an eight-story building in the major commercial area of Kitashinchi, the city's fire department said.
Local media reports suggest a man was seen walking around the building with a bag of liquid that may have been flammable shortly before the incident. A female outpatient told NHK that she saw the man, while another person said the fire started soon after he put the bag, which was leaking, on the floor.
Dozens of fire engines and crew were called to tackle the blaze, which was extinguished after about 30 minutes. On arrival at the scene, at least two dozen people were found suffering cardiac arrest, according to officials, with some requiring resuscitation after inhaling dangerous levels of toxic smoke.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said "many people have died or are in a state of heart and lung failures," but did not disclose the exact number. Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura said he will "pray from the bottom of my heart for the souls of those who died" in the fire, which is believed to have taken place in Kita Ward at a medical clinic inside the building.
Local authorities sent a DEMAT (emergency disaster medical unit) to the site, where they are "currently engaged in life-saving activities," Gov. Yoshimura added. Commenting on the prospect of arson, he said that police and fire teams are "investigating the cause of the fire... a report from the Osaka Prefectural Police reported that the building was set on fire."
The fire department said it did not find any deficiencies in fire protection in the building when it conducted a safety inspection back in March 2019, but that it was not legally required to install fire sprinklers given the size of the structure.
In Tokyo, the country's prime minister, Fumio Kishida, pledged to "make efforts to prevent a recurrence by grasping the actual situation and clarifying the cause and circumstances".
"I pray for the souls of those who have died, and extend my deepest sympathies to those who have been injured or damaged," he added.
