A fire broke out on July 23rd, 2025 on the 9th floor of an apartment building in Shinagawa, Tokyo, injuring five people. Preliminary investigations by the police suggest the cause may be linked to a small handheld fan that was charging at the time. Firefighters responded promptly, dispatching around 50 fire engines and managing to control the blaze within two hours. The fire damaged an area of several dozen square meters in the apartment.
The five injured, including the male resident of the unit, were hospitalized due to smoke inhalation but are not in life-threatening condition. Officials are conducting detailed examinations of the electrical devices involved to determine the exact cause.
The incident occurred near Shinbanba Station on the Keikyu Line, in a densely populated residential and apartment area. The thick smoke from the fire caused panic among nearby residents.
Japanese fire authorities have previously warned about the risks associated with portable USB rechargeable fans, which are popular summer accessories. These fans contain lithium batteries that can be hazardous if damaged—such as from a hard impact—which may cause battery failure or even explosion.
