A massive fire erupted in Osaka, Japan, claiming the lives of two firefighters. The blaze broke out around 9:50 a.m. local time on the first floor of a riverside building housing restaurants and other businesses. Footage from the scene showed thick black smoke and towering red flames engulfing the structure, NHK reported.
Firefighters responded swiftly, deploying 51 fire trucks and a helicopter to combat the inferno. The fire ultimately destroyed around 40 square meters, including parts of the main building and a neighboring structure, before being largely brought under control after roughly three hours.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the cause of the fire, which occurred in Osaka’s bustling Minami entertainment district, a popular area frequented by tourists and shoppers.
