A chimney and other structures being dismantled at 日本製紙's Yatsushiro Mill in Yatsushiro, Kumamoto Prefecture, were damaged by fire, which was extinguished after approximately six and a half hours. The fire broke out shortly before 6 p.m. on the 3rd and was extinguished at around 12:30 a.m. on the 4th.
A fire broke out shortly before 6 p.m. on the 3rd during dismantling work, damaging an FRP chimney and the absorption tower supporting it.
The fire is said to have occurred during the removal of a roughly 110-meter chimney at the Yatsushiro Mill. According to 日本製紙, it broke out while work was underway to remove the chimney, whose tip had been damaged.
The 10 people working at the site were reportedly uninjured. Police and fire authorities are expected to investigate the cause and other details from the morning of the 4th.
Details of the site are limited to the description in the article, and the status of the investigation is expected to be reported in subsequent updates.