The police and fire departments of the Fukushima Prefecture, cited by NHK, said that at least 1 person died and 17 were injured in an explosion in Koriyama City, after initially reporting 11 casualties. The incident occurred in a restaurant and was reported by a passerby who claimed to have heard it.
Two people are reportedly unable to walk and were transferred to the hospital along with others injured. Their condition is unknown.
The blast destroyed the building, damaging neighboring structures as well. Officials from Toho Bank, based near the scene, reported that two staffers and two customers using an ATM at the store were injured.
The reasons behind the explosion are not yet known, with suggestions emerging that it might have happened due to a gas leak in the restaurant, where staff and customers have been evacuated.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing.