<Anchor>

We are also a lot of tourists. A large explosion occurred in a Japanese restaurant in Sapporo, killing 40 people. The restaurant building collapsed in a strong explosion, but it has not been confirmed whether our tourists were on the scene.

It is Kim Soo-hyeong reporter on the sidewalk.

<Reporter>

Cigarette flames picked up the building and swallowed it. At the scene of the fire, black smoke keeps coming out.

The building is completely collapsed and the shape can not be recognized.

Explosion shattered the windows of nearby shops.

A large-scale explosion occurred at a restaurant in Sapporo, the central city of Hokkaido, north of Japan, at about 8:30 pm on the 16th.

The explosion broke down the restaurant building. Fortunately, no one was killed, but 42 people have been injured so far.

It was reported that two or three children were among the injured.

The fire was turned off in three and a half hours, but Japanese police have warned of the possibility of a secondary explosion in the surrounding area.

Based on the statements of witnesses who smelled gas immediately after the explosion, the fire department is investigating the exact cause of the explosion.