10 people injured in explosion near Kasai Station in Tokyo's Edogawa Ward
Ten people have been injured in an explosion at a construction site in Tokyo's Edogawa Ward.
The blast took place on Tuesday morning in a residential district near Kasai Station on Tokyo Metro's Tozai Line.
Footage shows black smoke rising from a construction vehicle. More than 30 fire engines were deployed, and the blaze was mostly contained in about 90 minutes.
Tokyo police say 10 people are complaining of pain in their ears and throat, but that none of their injuries are life-threatening. They reportedly include workers and residents, all in their 20s to 70s.
Police say workers were driving piles into the ground for a new condominium building at the time of the incident.
They say an underground gas pipe could have been damaged in the process.
Police urged nearby residents to evacuate, as multiple explosions continued after the initial blast.
A resident in his 60s said the explosion blew out a window, and his house is littered with glass. He said he heard about five successive blasts.
Two 19-year-old students at a vocational school close to the site said they heard a thunderous roar during class.
They said they thought heavy machinery might have collapsed at the construction site, but then they smelled smoke.
A man in his 30s who lives in a nearby apartment said he rushed out of his bedroom after hearing a bang.
He said the air conditioner had fallen off the living room wall, so he knew it was serious. He said he quickly changed his clothes, grabbed his work bag and left the house.
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