Osaka: At least 27 people have been killed in a building fire in Japan.
A fire in a building in the western Japanese city of Osaka on Friday killed at least 27 people, according to the report.
All of the victims were reportedly at a psychiatric clinic on the fourth floor of a building in the Ketashinchi area, a busy commercial and recreational district.
Osaka City Fire Department official Akira Kashimoto said 28 people were injured in the crash, 27 of whom were found to have suffered a heart attack.
Japan: 27 feared dead as fire breaks out in commercial building in Osaka: 9 people died 18 people cardiopulmonary arrest Suspected of arson in Osaka Building fire. Nine people were confirmed dead in a fire that broke out in the psychosomatic medicine department of a building in pic.twitter.com/wIjBA5V6GR
– worldnews24u (@ worldnews24u) December 17, 2021
The victims reportedly suffered cardiopulmonary arrest, a term often used in early reports before death was confirmed.
The state broadcaster NHK says police are investigating whether the fire was set on purpose.
Video: 27 feared dead after Osaka building fire, arson suspectedhttps://t.co/ATCJl9jG8O pic.twitter.com/wgntvU14gN
– The Mainichi (Japan Daily News) (@themainichi) December 17, 2021
The local fire department said the fire spread over an area of ​​about 20 square meters (215 square feet). Rescue workers successfully extinguished the blaze within half an hour, but those inside could not be rescued.
Footage on social media showed windows of the affected building turning black, and smoke billowing from inside, with dozens of fire engines and police vehicles on the road, officials said. A total of 70 fire engines were deployed, most of which arrived within about 30 minutes of the emergency call.