33 dead after explosion at Kyoto Animation studio, dozens injured

Authored by mainichi.jp and submitted by Moonsolol

The Kyoto Animation building is seen on fire in Kyoto's Fushimi Ward on July 18, 2019. (Mainichi/Naohiro Yamada)

KYOTO -- An explosion at an animation studio here on the morning of July 18 has left 33 people dead, police and firefighters said.

A man allegedly entered the No. 1 studio of the Kyoto Animation building in Fushimi Ward in the western Japan city of Kyoto at around 10:30 a.m., poured what appeared to be gasoline around while screaming, "Go die," and set fire to it. The man was injured and admitted to a hospital.

A plastic container and a knife were found left at the scene. The 41-year-old suspect told prefectural police that he set fire to the building. Police are treating the case as arson.

At least 36 people were injured, 10 of them seriously. At least 12 of those who were confirmed dead were found on the first and second floors of the three-story building.

Police said the man who started the fire tried to leave the scene, but a worker followed him. Police officers who arrived at the site found him sitting down several dozen meters away from the building and apprehended him after questioning him. He was believed to have second-degree burns.

About 30 fire engines were mobilized to extinguish the fire. About 70 people including employees were in the No. 1 studio at the time of the incident.

The No. 1 studio, with a total floor space of about 700 square meters, was burned down in the blaze.

Firefighters quoted a local resident as reporting that there had been an explosion on the first floor of the building. Another person who called police said there was smoke rising from the building, and a person could be heard crying for help.

According to the National Police Agency, the arson attack is the worst in Japan in terms of the number of victims since the beginning of the previous Heisei era in 1989.

caunm on July 18th, 2019 at 06:17 UTC »

missing:

Ishihara Tatsuya Director

AIR・Suzumiya Haruhi series・Kannon・Nichijou CLANNAD・Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions・Sound! Euphonium

Ishidate Taichi Director

Kyoukai no Kanata・Violet Evergarden

Takemoto Yasuhiro Director

Kobayashi-san Chi no Maid Dragon・The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya

Kawanami Eisaku Director

Free!-Timeless Medley-・Free!-Dive to the Future-

Nishiya Futoshi Animation director

A Silent Voice・Liz and the Blue Bird Nichijou・HYOUKA Character Design

Kadowaki Miku Animation director

Kobayashi-san Chi no Maid Dragon・Tsurune・Kyoukai no Kanata Character Design

Edit: Ishihara and Ishidate confirmed to be safe

hiero_ on July 18th, 2019 at 03:49 UTC »

Kyoto Animation is considered to be one of the best animation studios not just in Japan, but in the world. They are masters in the art.

People in the animation industry in Japan already have it hard as is. Lots of overtime, exhaustion, and pay isn't great and often times changes depending on how well a show performs.

No one deserves this. Absolutely horrific.

Moonsolol on July 18th, 2019 at 03:38 UTC »

Update: Gonna turn in for the night since it's 2:32 AM, will update in the morning

Fire took place in Kyoto Animation's Studio 1

Confirmed to be arson

Sentai Filmworks, an American licensing company, has started a GoFundMe as an effort to help Kyoto Animation. Please donate if you can:

https://www.gofundme.com/help-kyoani-heal

A perspective of the fire:

https://twitter.com/mainichiphoto/status/1151694460415172608?s=20

https://twitter.com/mainichiphoto/status/1151711795977031680?s=20

https://twitter.com/mainichiphoto/status/1151734263831617542?s=19

As of 12:15 PM JST, 10 people seriously injured, 10 people unconscious, and 18 people mildly injured:

https://mainichi.jp/articles/20190718/k00/00m/040/084000c

A man in his 40s has confirmed to starting the fire:

https://mainichi.jp/articles/20190718/k00/00m/040/084000c

Multiple deaths have been confirmed by NHK police report:

https://twitter.com/nhk_news/status/1151694842117754881

Allegdly man had tried pouring gasoline on people too:

https://twitter.com/you629/status/1151695567287795713?s=20

https://twitter.com/soukatsu_/status/1151699853505961984?s=21

https://mainichi.jp/articles/20190718/k00/00m/040/105000c

One had died within the fire inside the building:

https://twitter.com/mainichi/status/1151698158935658498

Some conflicting information to earlier police report from NHK of multiple fatalities, one death confirmed so far:

https://twitter.com/mainichi/status/1151701343385427968?s=20

Sharp tools (knife-like) found near scene, unknown if related to incident:

https://twitter.com/nhk_news/status/1151704299707273218?s=20

Kyoto Newspaper confirming people running outside on fire:

https://twitter.com/kyoto_np/status/1151701015046922241?s=20

At least 35 injured, 20 missing, and several still inside building at time of this tweet:

https://twitter.com/mainichi/status/1151705924936974336?s=20

10 people found lying face down on 2nd floor, all believed to be dead:

https://twitter.com/47newsflash/status/1151718259143528450?s=19

Several people who had suffered cardiac arrest within building and had stopped hearts left behind as rescue operations continue:

https://twitter.com/nhk_news/status/1151721268225499138?s=19

Over 10 people are confirmed dead:

EDIT: In the NHK article, it was stated that 70 people were working inside at time of arson

https://twitter.com/nhk_news/status/1151729067638439937

According to Kyoto City Fire Department, 12 had suffered cardiac arrest, and 36 are injured:

https://twitter.com/47newsflash/status/1151733857185460227?s=19