Yokohama horror as huge fire engulfs Tsurumi ward with 5 homes in flames | World | News

A huge fire has engulfed an entire street in Yokohama, Japan, according to reports, as more than 40 fire engines and other vehicles respond. Emergency services were alerted at around 7.30pm local time on Tuesday after a nearby resident called 119 – Japan’s emergency number – to report smoke coming from a house and an explosion-like sound in the Uenomiya area of the city’s Tsurumi ward.

The Yokohama City Fire Bureau said multiple units were dispatched and firefighting operations remain ongoing. Authorities say at least five homes have been affected by the blaze as flames spread through the densely packed residential district. Tsurumi Police Station of Kanagawa Prefectural Police said a man in his 80s suffered minor leg injuries and was taken to the hospital, and is believed to be a resident of the property where the fire began. According to the regional Kanagawa Shimbun newspaper, the house where the blaze is thought to have started was completely destroyed before flames spread to neighbouring buildings, damaging at least five in total. Fire officials said around 40 to 41 fire vehicles were sent to the scene as crews worked through the evening to stop the fire from spreading further.

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The incident happened roughly 600 metres northeast of Kikuna Station on the Tokyu Toyoko Line in a tightly packed residential neighbourhood. 

Images shared on social media showed towering flames and thick black smoke rising above rooftops as the fire tore through the area.

One post, translated from Japanese, read: “I thought it was smoky, then realised a large fire had broken out,” while others wrote “smoke is rising” and “flames are visible”. 

Witnesses also reported hearing an explosion-like bang shortly before smoke was seen pouring from one of the homes.

Authorities said they were checking whether anyone else may still be unaccounted for, and the fire was last reported to still be spreading.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by police and fire authorities.