A fire broke out at a ship-dismantling yard in Kure City, Hiroshima Prefecture, on Thursday, spreading to a moored vessel and prompting evacuations [1, 2].
The incident underscores the high risks associated with shipbreaking operations, where the presence of combustible materials and pressurized gas can turn industrial accidents into public safety crises.
Emergency services received a 119 call at 12:50 p.m. reporting the blaze [1]. Firefighters dispatched 11 trucks to the Nakamoto Shipbuilding Industry site to combat the flames [1]. Witnesses said they heard explosion sounds as the fire consumed scrap materials and ships, while an unidentified caller told officials that a large amount of black smoke was billowing from the scene [1].
Local authorities issued evacuation orders for 356 households, affecting approximately 650 people [3]. Despite the scale of the smoke and the reported explosions, no injuries have been reported [1].
Officials have not yet confirmed the exact cause of the fire. However, some police and fire officials said that an oxygen cylinder may have exploded [3]. The blaze began at an outdoor dismantling area before it reached the moored vessel [1, 2].
Firefighters worked to contain the perimeter to prevent further spread into the residential areas of Kure City. The site remained under monitoring as crews worked to extinguish remaining hotspots in the scrap metal and ship hulls [1].
“A large amount of black smoke was billowing from the scene”
This incident highlights the volatility of ship-dismantling environments, where the intersection of heavy industrial cutting and old vessel infrastructure creates significant hazards. The need to evacuate 650 residents suggests that the industrial site's proximity to residential zones in Kure City poses a continuing risk during emergency events involving hazardous materials or pressurized equipment.
