Fire alarm caused by chimney dismantling work at Nippon Paper Yashiro Factory in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan

(Central News Agency, Tokyo, 4th, comprehensive foreign news report) A strong earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, at the end of July severely damaged Nippon Paper Yatsushiro Factory, causing one of the large chimneys in the factory to collapse and nine people were killed. A fire suddenly broke out while Nippon Paper was dismantling another chimney yesterday. The fire was extinguished about six hours later, that is, this morning.

The Mainichi Shimbun reported that Nippon Paper stated that the chimney that caught fire was not one that collapsed during the earthquake. At the time of yesterday's fire, the chimney with damaged front edge was being dismantled, and the remaining structure under the front edge of the chimney was cut off and lifted down with a crane.

The Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) reported that a fire broke out at Nippon Paper Yatsushiro Factory in Yatsushiro City, Kumamoto Prefecture yesterday, and flames erupted from the 110-meter-high chimney.

Nippon Paper explained that the fire occurred in a 110-meter-high chimney made of reinforced plastic. At the time of the fire, 10 construction workers commissioned by Nippon Paper were burning gas and performing fusing operations to cut off metal and other materials. It is currently unclear how the fusing operation is related to the fire, and they will fully cooperate with the police and fire investigation.

Nippon Paper also stated that it originally planned to dismantle the chimney around the middle of this month. However, due to the impact of the fire, the demolition schedule will be determined based on the situation.

Police said the construction site was cutting off iron pillars surrounding the chimney. The police plan to investigate the details with the fire department after the 7th of this month.

Kumamoto Television (TKU) reported that the firefighting unit and Nippon Paper stated that 10 workers were involved in the demolition project at the time, but fortunately no one was injured.

The Japanese government held the first meeting of the newly established "Reconstruction and Reconstruction Headquarters" today to discuss Kumamoto's post-disaster reconstruction. During the meeting, Niko Takaichi Sanae instructed relevant cabinet members to devote all their efforts to reconstruction and recovery, such as implementing the previously compiled support plan as soon as possible to help the victims regain their lives.