Explosion at Toray group plant in Otsu injures three; gas-like substance detected
Version 2: Later coverage adds that one person was seriously injured and that walls collapsed at the site, alongside the earlier report that a gas-like substance had been detected; the cause remains under investigation and officials have not announced one.
In short
An explosion at a Toray group company plant on the Toray Shiga business site in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, on the afternoon of Oct 5 sent three people to hospital. Livedoor News said a 35-year-old man doing machine maintenance in the room next to the blast suffered a spinal fracture, while Nippon TV said none of the injuries appeared life-threatening and Sankei Shimbun said all three were conscious. Nippon TV later reported in a headline that a gas-like substance had been detected; police and fire officials are questioning employees and investigating the cause.
Why it matters
The blast occurred at a plant of a group company of Toray, one of Japan's largest materials makers, and police and firefighters are still investigating why it happened. The documents disagree on how badly the three people were hurt, so the confirmed picture is limited to the fact that three were taken to hospital and that no fire was confirmed. The documents give no information on effects on production or on the surrounding area.
Key facts
- An explosion occurred at a Toray group company factory on the Toray Shiga business site in Sonoyama 1-chome, Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, on the afternoon of Oct 5. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- Three people were taken to hospital: a 35-year-old man and two women aged 44 and 64. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Livedoor News reported that the man, who was carrying out machine maintenance in the room next to the blast, suffered a spinal fracture and serious injuries. [ 1 ]
- Nippon TV reported that one man believed to have been working was injured and two women were taken to hospital feeling unwell, and that none of the injuries appeared life-threatening. [ 4 ]
- Sankei Shimbun reported in its headlines that the three injured were all conscious. [ 5 , 6 ]
- A Tokyo Shimbun headline said one person was seriously injured and that walls collapsed in the damage. [ 7 ]
- The fire department received a call from an employee shortly after 16:30 saying a worker had been injured on the job, and the explosion was reported at about 16:45. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Nippon TV later reported in a headline that a gas-like substance had been detected at the site, and a Yahoo! News Japan headline asked whether a gas-like substance had exploded. [ 3 , 8 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- An explosion occurred at a Toray group company factory on the Toray Shiga business site in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, on the afternoon of Oct 5. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- Three people were taken to hospital after the blast. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- The fire department received a call from an employee reporting that a worker had been injured while working. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- The Toray Shiga business site is in Sonoyama 1-chome, Otsu. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- How seriously the three people were hurt. Livedoor News reported the man suffered a spinal fracture and serious injuries and a Tokyo Shimbun headline said one person was seriously injured, while Nippon TV said none of the injuries appeared life-threatening and Sankei Shimbun said all three were conscious.
- Whether the two women were injured or became unwell. Livedoor News said the two women had no injuries, while Nippon TV said they were taken to hospital feeling unwell.
- Whether a gas-like substance was involved in the blast. Only a Nippon TV headline says a gas-like substance was detected and a Yahoo! News Japan headline asks whether gas exploded; no document reports an official statement on gas and no cause has been announced.
- The exact time of the incident. Documents give shortly after 16:30 for the employee's call, 16:40 for the emergency call reported by Nippon TV, and about 16:45 for the explosion reported by Livedoor News and TBS.
- Whether a fire occurred at the site. Reported by Nippon TV alone: it said no fire was confirmed, there was no danger of ignition and 10 fire trucks were dispatched, while Livedoor News said no firefighting was carried out.
- What caused the explosion. No document states a cause; police and fire officials are still investigating, according to the reports.
- Police and fire officials are questioning employees and investigating the cause, according to the reports. Reported by a single source so far
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- An employee calls the fire department to report that a worker has been injured on the job, according to fire officials. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Nippon TV reports the 119 emergency call was made from the Toray premises in Sonoyama, Otsu. [ 4 ]
- Livedoor News and TBS report the explosion occurred around this time at the Toray group factory. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Nippon TV reports three people taken to hospital, no fire confirmed and no danger of ignition, with 10 fire trucks dispatched. [ 4 ]
- Sankei Shimbun reports three injured and conscious at the Toray Shiga business site. [ 6 ]
- Tokyo Shimbun reports in a headline one person seriously injured and walls collapsed in the damage. [ 7 ]
- Nippon TV reports in a headline that a gas-like substance was detected at the group company factory. [ 8 ]