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Japan Times
27-05-2025
- Japan Times
Gas explosion injures 10 at Tokyo construction site, prompts evacuation
A gas explosion at a construction site in Tokyo's Edogawa Ward injured 10 people on Tuesday morning, prompting a large-scale emergency response and temporary evacuations. The blast occurred around 9:30 a.m. in the Higashi-Kasai area, following reports of a loud explosion and smoke. A construction vehicle at the scene caught fire, sending black smoke into the air. The blaze was brought under control about 90 minutes later, with more than 30 fire trucks, including pumpers, deployed for the operation, according to an NHK report. Ten people, including construction workers and nearby residents in their 20s to 70s, sustained non life-threatening injuries, according to the Tokyo Fire Department. Police said workers had been driving piles into the ground for a new condominium when they likely struck an underground gas pipe, triggering the explosion. The blast is believed to have shattered windows and signs on nearby buildings and convenience stores, sending glass scattered across the street. A 44-year-old manager of a nearby supermarket said he heard the explosion shortly after arriving at work. 'I heard three or four bangs, and the ground shook. When I looked outside, a car was in flames. I was solely focused on guiding people to safety. I was thinking I had to protect my employees and customers,' he said. Firefighters at the site of an explosion in Tokyo's Edogawa Ward on Tuesday. | Jiji A man in his 60s who lives nearby told reporters, 'I was at home when I heard a tremendous bang. I thought a truck had crashed. The whole place shook.' Tokyo police urged residents in the surrounding area to evacuate as a precaution while investigators worked to assess the extent of the damage and determine the exact cause of the incident. The site is located near Kasai Station on the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line, in a densely populated residential district lined with apartment buildings. Translated by The Japan Times
Saudi Gazette
21-05-2025
- Climate
- Saudi Gazette
Tokyo to waive water fees this summer to combat extreme heat
TOKYO — Basic water utility fees will be waived for residents of Tokyo this summer in an effort to limit the impact of extreme heat, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has announced. More than ¥36bn ($250m; £186m) has been set aside for the subsidies, which will come into effect for a four-month period. "We would like to create an environment in which all Tokyoites can live in peace even in the extremely hot weather we are expected to experience this summer," Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said. Heatstroke claimed a record 263 lives in Tokyo last summer, according to the Bureau of Public Health. Many victims did not have air conditioning or chose not to use it because of high costs. "Due to anxieties over living (costs), there may be cases in which people don't use their air conditioners during a heat wave even though they own one," Koike added. By offsetting water costs, the government aims to encourage residents of the Japanese capital to use other cooling methods like air more than 60% of heatstroke deaths recorded indoors last summer, the victims had not turned air conditioning on, the Tokyo Fire Department said, according to the Japan average, base water fees in Tokyo cost between ¥860 ($6; £4.50) to ¥1,460 ($10; £7.50) per month, depending on the width of the household's water fees — based on water usage and paid on top of base fees — will be charged at their usual has more than 7 million households and a population of more than 14 million, according to government recorded its hottest summer on record last in June, July and August were 1.76 degrees higher than the average between 1991 and 2020, according to the Japan meteorological June and September, nearly 8,000 people in Tokyo were taken to hospitals for heatstroke — also a record — with a majority of deaths recorded among elderly people. — BBC
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Tokyo to waive water fees this summer to combat extreme heat
Basic water utility fees will be waived for residents of Tokyo this summer in an effort to limit the impact of extreme heat, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has announced. More than ¥36bn ($250m; £186m) has been set aside for the subsidies, which will come into effect for a four-month period. "We would like to create an environment in which all Tokyoites can live in peace even in the extremely hot weather we are expected to experience this summer," Tokyo Governor Yuriko Joike said. Heatstroke claimed a record 263 lives in Tokyo last summer, according to the Bureau of Public Health. Many victims did not have air conditioning or chose not to use it because of high costs. "Due to anxieties over living (costs), there may be cases in which people don't use their air conditioners during a heat wave even though they own one," Koike added.# By offsetting water costs, the government aims to encourage residents of the Japanese capital to use other cooling methods like air conditioning. In more than 60% of heatstroke deaths recorded indoors last summer, the victims had not turned air conditioning on, the Tokyo Fire Department said, according to the Japan Times. On average, base water fees in Tokyo cost between ¥860 ($6; £4.50) to ¥1,460 ($10; £7.50) per month, depending on the width of the household's water pipe. Additional fees - based on water usage and paid on top of base fees - will be charged at their usual rate. Tokyo has more than 7 million households and a population of more than 14 million, according to government statistics. Japan recorded its hottest summer on record last year. Temperatures in June, July and August were 1.76 degrees higher than the average between 1991 and 2020, according to the Japan meteorological agency. Between June and September, nearly 8,000 people in Tokyo were taken to hospitals for heatstroke - also a record - with a majority of deaths recorded among elderly people.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Tokyo to waive water bills this summer to combat extreme heat
Basic water utility fees will be waived for residents of Tokyo this summer in an effort to limit the impact of extreme heat, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has announced. More than ¥36bn ($250m; £186m) has been set aside for the subsidies, which will come into effect for a four-month period. "We would like to create an environment in which all Tokyoites can live in peace even in the extremely hot weather we are expected to experience this summer," Tokyo Governor Yuriko Joike said. Heatstroke claimed 263 lives in Tokyo last summer, according to the Bureau of Public Health. Many victims did not have air conditioning or chose not to use it because of high costs. "Due to anxieties over living (costs), there may be cases in which people don't use their air conditioners during a heat wave even though they own one," Koike added.# By offsetting water costs, the government aims to encourage residents of the Japanese capital to use other cooling methods like air conditioning. In more than 60% of heatstroke deaths recorded indoors last summer, the victims had not turned air conditioning on, the Tokyo Fire Department said, according to the Japan Times. On average, base water fees in Tokyo cost between ¥860 ($6; £4.50) to ¥1,460 ($10; £7.50) per month, depending on the width of the household's water pipe. Additional fees - based on water usage and paid on top of base fees - will be charged at their usual rate. Tokyo has more than 7 million households and a population of more than 14 million, according to government statistics. Japan recorded its hottest summer on record last year. Temperatures in June, July and August were 1.76 degrees higher than the average between 1991 and 2020, according to the Japan meteorological agency. Between June and September, nearly 8,000 people in Tokyo were taken to hospitals for heatstroke - also a record - with a majority of deaths recorded among elderly people.
07-05-2025
Man Brandishes Knife at Tokyo Metro Station; Several Injured
News from Japan May 7, 2025 20:51 (JST) Tokyo, May 7 (Jiji Press)--Police detained a man who reportedly brandished a knife at Todaimae Station on Tokyo Metro Co.'s Namboku Line in the capital's Bunkyo Ward on Wednesday evening. At around 7 p.m., police received an emergency call that a man was brandishing a knife and that a woman was cut and injured. According to investigative sources, the incident occurred on a stationary train at the station, and one person was injured in the forehead and neck but was conscious. Tokyo Fire Department sources said several people were injured in the incident. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
