Tokyo fire under control after engulfing storage building under demolition

Fire engulfs a distribution center in central Tokyo, on June 20, 2017. PHOTO: REUTERS/HIRAYAMA SHIGEYA

TOKYO (Reuters) - Fire engulfed a storage building being demolished in the Japanese capital on Tuesday (June 20), injuring at least one person and sending clouds of black smoke into the sky, but the fire was brought under control by early evening.

More than 50 fire engines and ambulances were sent to the former dairy products distribution centre in eastern Tokyo, the Tokyo Fire Department said, as a helicopter hovered overhead.

It was unclear what caused the fire, but it was well contained and unlikely to spread to nearby buildings, a department spokesman said. A 22-year-old man was injured but was conscious, he said.

TV footage earlier showed the building surrounded by what looked like scaffolding engulfed in flames and spewing dark smoke into the sky.

The building has been under demolition since March.

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