Tokyo: Massive fire broke out at the world’s biggest fish market- Tsukiji- in Tokyo on Thursday. Smoke was seen flowing into the air and flames leapt from the sides of the market through old wooden buildings.
Dozens of firefighters were gathered to combat the blaze at Tsukiji’s outer market, which was crowded with small shops and restaurants, but local media said there were no immediate reports of injuries.
Forty-three fire engines were deployed to extinguish the fire, public broadcaster NHK said. “I could tell immediately that it’s a fire,” said Kiyoshi Kimura, the head of the Sushizanmai restaurant chain, who was at his office in the area when the fire broke out.
“So I called managers and had everyone evacuated from our restaurants,” Kimura said.
However, the fire, fortunately, did not reach the inner market, reported Evening Standard.
According to the governor of the city, the market is so old and vulnerable to earthquakes that it needs to be rebuilt.