Blast rocks fertilizer factory in Ibaraki, Japan, knocking out power in neighborhood
A blast has ripped through a fertilizer factory in Ibaraki, on the main Japanese island of Honshu, knocking out power in the neighborhood, according to local police.
At least 300 homes lost power as a result of the explosion, according to local media. The incident took place at around 3 p.m. local time (0400 GMT).
The explosion also destroyed the roofs of at least two buildings and heavily charred the interior, images from the scene showed.
工場で爆発、２棟の天井が吹き飛ぶ 筑西市（NNN） https://t.co/PGiuMt2xKw「セブンファーム」の工場で爆発この影響で、周辺の民家のガラスなどが割れたほか、筑西市などで３００軒以上が停電 pic.twitter.com/js9omHAPhI
— ロビン (@oldblue2012) June 15, 2016
茨城県筑西市「農業生産法人セブンファーム工場」で天井が吹き飛ぶ爆発事故発生https://t.co/7BTvtVsu0S
— 林檎舎 時事ニュース・エンタメ情報 (@ringosya_jp) June 15, 2016
衝撃波で学校校舎や体育館のガラスが割れるなどの被害
下妻市・つくば市の停電は午後２時前に復旧しました pic.twitter.com/YeZhRGGrZW
Pabrik Pertanian di Perfektur Ibaraki Jepang Meledak - Tribunnews https://t.co/0KzawEqoDU
— Tanah Sembalun (@TanahSembalun) June 15, 2016
Police are investigating the incident. There were no immediate reports of loss of life.
In August 2015, a blast ripped through a warehouse at a US military post in the city of Sagamihara, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) southwest of Tokyo, causing a fire. Witnesses told AFP they first feared a bomb had gone off.
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Several hours later, a powerful blaze erupted at a steel pipe plant near Tokyo's Haneda international airport. The local fire department reportedly said the blaze may have been caused by workers using gas burners to dismantle the site.
