Kōriyama explosion

The Kōriyama explosion occurred on 30 July 2020 at 8:57 a.m. Japan Standard Time, when a gas explosion destroyed an On-Yasai, a shabu-shabu restaurant located along Sakura-dōri in the city of Kōriyama in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. The blast resulted in the death of a person and the wounding of 19 other people.[1] The restaurant was being remodeled at the time of its destruction. The man who was killed in the blast was part of the crew who was renovating the restaurant, though he was the only worker present at the time of the incident.[2] An Ikinari Steak restaurant and a bank within the vicinity of the restaurant were also damaged,[3] four of the bank's occupants were among the injured.[4] Damage caused by the blast was reported up to 450 meters (1,480 ft) away from its epicenter at the shabu-shabu restaurant.[2]

Kōriyama explosion
Date30 July 2020 (2020-07-30)
LocationKōriyama, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan
Coordinates37°23′53″N 140°20′50″E
CauseGas leak
Deaths1
Non-fatal injuries19

Investigation
An On-Yasai restaurant similar to the one destroyed in Kōriyama

The cause of the gas explosion is currently being investigated by authorities, though it is suspected to have been caused by the failure of several propane cylinders.[5][6] The company carrying out the renovation work at the time of the explosion claimed their work did not involve the gas cylinders.[2] However, the renovation did include the rushed installation of an induction stove near the restaurant's gas stove on the day prior to the blast.[7] Fukushima Prefectural Police suspect that gas was leaking from the cylinders throughout the night prior to the blast, filling the building with their contents. This theory is backed up by reports from nearby residents who said they had smelled gas in the area the day before the explosion.[8] When the renovation worker entered the premises and turned on the power to the building, the gas was ignited.[9] The restaurant's gas supplier informed the police on 5 August that they had noticed corrosion on the restaurant's gas pipes in June. The restaurant's owners claimed they had not acted on the information from the gas supplier because the store was closed to business.[10]

References
  1. "(Update 3) 1 Killed, 19 Injured in Fukushima Restaurant Blast". Jiji Press. 30 July 2020. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  2. "福島 郡山 飲食店の建物で爆発 現場監督の男性死亡 18人けが" [Kōriyama, Fukushima explosion at a restaurant building killed one man and injured 18] (in Japanese). NHK. 30 July 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  3. "福島・郡山の飲食店爆発 写真特集" [Kōriyama, Fukushima restaurant explosion photo feature]. Jiji Press (in Japanese). 30 July 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  4. "1 dead, 18 hurt in Fukushima explosion, gas leak suspected". The Mainichi Shimbun. 30 July 2020. Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  5. "One dead, 17 injured in Koriyama blast". NHK World Japan. 30 July 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  6. "One killed and 17 injured after an explosion at a restaurant in Japan". The Telegraph. 30 July 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  7. "飲食店爆発 運営チェーンの親会社 コロワイド社長 会見で謝罪" [Explosion of restaurant: Colowide restaurant chain apologizes at press conference] (in Japanese). NHK. 30 July 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  8. "前日工事「異臭した」 爆発事故、被害１８０棟超―福島・郡山" [Odor reported the day prior to explosion– Kōriyama, Fukushima] (in Japanese). Jiji Press. 1 August 2020. Archived from the original on 25 December 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  9. "業過致死傷容疑で現場検証 郡山の飲食店爆発事故―福島県警" [Fukushima Prefectural Police: Investigation of fatal Kōriyama restaurant explosion] (in Japanese). Jiji Press. 31 July 2020. Archived from the original on 31 July 2020. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  10. Kyodo (5 August 2020). "郡山爆発、点検でガス管腐食指摘 6月末に業者、飲食店に交換促す" [Koriyama explosion, gas pipe corrosion was pointed out during inspection at the end of June] (in Japanese). Yahoo! Japan. Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
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