33 confirmed dead in Kyoto Animation arson attack: fire department
Updated 22:03, 18-Jul-2019
CGTN
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01:17

Updated at 20:30 p.m. BJT

33 people are confirmed dead in a suspected arson attack in Kyoto, the Kyoto fire department said. 

The search for survivors has been completed. So far, there have been no reports of Chinese citizens injured in the fire, the Chinese Consulate-General in Osaka said.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has offered his condolences to the victims, describing the fire as a "tragedy" on Twitter in the afternoon on Thursday.

Screenshot of Shinzo Abe’s Twitter

Screenshot of Shinzo Abe’s Twitter

At least 23 people were feared dead in a suspected arson incident at the studios of Kyoto Animation in Kyoto, Japan on Thursday, a local fire department official told reporters.

Updated at 17:30 p.m. BJT

13 people are confirmed dead and at least 10 others have no vital signs, according to authorities.

Dozens others were wounded in the blaze.

The investigation into the suspect is underway.

Smoke billows from the Kyoto Animation company building after a fire in Kyoto, Japan on July 18, 2019. /VCG Photo

Smoke billows from the Kyoto Animation company building after a fire in Kyoto, Japan on July 18, 2019. /VCG Photo

Firefighters at the Kyoto Animation studio in the Kyoto, Japan on July 18, 2019. /VCG Photo

Firefighters at the Kyoto Animation studio in the Kyoto, Japan on July 18, 2019. /VCG Photo

Updated at 1:30 p.m. BJT

About 10 people were found lying unconscious on the second floor and were presumed dead, local media reported, citing the police.

Footage of the blaze showed thick white smoke pouring out of the windows of the three-story building. 

People near the site said they heard a series of explosions and saw black smoke coming out of the building. 

It was reported that the suspect had poured a gasoline-like substance around the building and said "you die" as he lit the blaze, but there were no immediate details on any motive for the suspected arson. 

There was no immediate statement from the studio.

Updated at 12:20 p.m. BJT

Multiple people have been confirmed dead in a fire at an the Kyoto Animation studio in Kyoto, Japan, NHK reported on Thursday morning, citing local police. 

The exact number of deaths still remains unclear, according to the public broadcaster. 

A man has been taken into custody on suspicion of arson for pouring what appeared to be gasoline around the studio. 

Kyoto Animation Co. studios are located in Kyoto, western Japan. Photo taken by Kyodo July 18, 2019. /Reuters Photo

Kyoto Animation Co. studios are located in Kyoto, western Japan. Photo taken by Kyodo July 18, 2019. /Reuters Photo

Updated at 11:30 a.m. BJT

At least one person was killed and more than 30 others were injured, including 10 in serious condition, in a fire at an animation studio in Kyoto, western Japan on Thursday, local media reported.

The fire started at around 10:30 a.m. local time in a three-story studio of Kyoto Animation Co., known for popular anime series such as "The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya", "K-On!" and the acclaimed movie "A Silent Voice". 

Local police and first responders said a man has been taken into custody on suspicion of scattering what appeared to be an accelerant, possibly gasoline, on the site. 

Local media said there were around 70 people in the studio when the fire began.

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