More than 40 people, including several children, has been hurt on Sunday evening when an larger gas explosion destroyed a restaurant in Sapporo of Northern Japan. Police sealed off the area amid fears of more explosions.
The blast caused a fire to break out in the restaurant, and shattered the windows in a nearby apartment building and cars parked outside were partially covered with debris that had fallen on them. More than 20 fire engines were reportedly deployed.
Police are investigating the cause of the explosion in Sapporo’s Toyohira district. One news agency reported that a gas safety center official noted five propane gas tanks outside of the pub and two outside the real estate office.
Footage has shown the extent of the damage after the explosion, with rubble shown strewn across the street and the restaurant completely destroyed as well as an estate agents which was in the same building.
One man suffered burns to his face but his life was not in danger, the police said. Most of the others were treated for superficial injuries. News agencies said children had also been injured in the blast.
Video posted on social media showed flames shooting up into the sky and debris-strewn streets. “I heard a bang which sounded like thunder, and my condo was shaken,” said a man who lived nearby.
>Juthy Saha
