August 6, 2023 at 13:31 JST
A substantial fire broke out at the Itabashi Fireworks Festival in Tokyo on Aug. 5, forcing the event to be canceled due to safety concerns, although there were no reports of injuries.
The fire department received an emergency call around 8:10 p.m. that “dead grass had caught fire” on the banks of the Arakawa river.
The incident occurred as the fireworks festival was being staged from the riverbed.
Authorities said an area of underbrush covering about 2,000 square meters was ablaze, adding that the fire was extinguished around 11 p.m.
It occurred far away from the spectators’ seats.
The fireworks display was scheduled to end at 8:30 p.m., but was canceled due to the fire.
A 32-year-old office worker from Toda city in Saitama Prefecture, who was at the venue, said a grassy area caught fire around 8 p.m. during the “Grand Niagara Falls” performance, which is considered one of the highlights of the fireworks extravaganza.
People nearby tried to extinguish the flames, but they were unable to do so, and the fire spread.
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Fire near the venue of the Itabashi Fireworks Festival in Tokyo on Aug. 5 (Provided by a spectator)
