Fire Breaks Out Near Dotonbori in Osaka, Japan; Taiwanese Tourist Forced to Evacuate

(CNA, Tokyo, 18th, Comprehensive External Report) A fire broke out in four buildings this morning in Nishi-Shinsaibashi 2-chome, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Japan, near the Dotonbori area. No casualties have been reported so far. A nearby Taiwanese tourist recalled, "The outside was filled with smoke, I was scared and had to evacuate quickly."

According to the "Mainichi Shimbun," at around 7:10 AM today, a passerby reported that "a fire started on the first floor of a restaurant" in Nishi-Shinsaibashi 2-chome. The location is a bustling downtown area with many restaurants and shops.

The Osaka City Fire Department and the Osaka Prefectural Minami Police Station stated that the fire also spread to three adjacent buildings, burning a total of about 350 square meters, and was brought under control after about two and a half hours.

A woman in her 40s who lives nearby said, "I heard an explosion and realized there was a fire. In the blink of an eye, the fire spread to the surrounding buildings."

A 42-year-old male tourist from Taiwan was staying at a nearby hotel. He stated, "The outside was filled with smoke, and I was scared and had to evacuate quickly. I need to go to the airport to return to Taiwan, but the area is cordoned off, and I can't get back to the hotel."

According to Mainichi Broadcasting System (MBS), relevant authorities indicated that the fire initially started on the first floor of a three-story building.

The fire department dispatched about 40 fire trucks to the scene and is still working on extinguishing the blaze.

In August of last year, a fire also occurred in a building in Dotonbori, spreading to the main branch of the ramen shop Ichiran Dotonbori on the same block. That fire resulted in the deaths of two firefighters and injured four other people. (Translator: Yang Wei-ching) 1150518