A fire broke out at Surugaya, a long-established eel restaurant in Narita, Chiba Prefecture, on Oct. 10, 2024 [1].

The incident is significant due to the high volume of people present during the emergency and the restaurant's proximity to the Naritasan Shinshoji Temple, a major cultural site.

Emergency services received a report of smoke rising from the building at approximately 8:15 p.m. [1]. At the time of the outbreak, more than 100 people, including both customers and employees, were inside the premises [2].

Despite the large number of occupants, authorities said there were no injuries and no one was left behind in the building [2]. Two individuals reported feeling unwell following the incident [2].

Police and fire department personnel responded to the scene to manage the blaze and evacuate the occupants. The cause of the fire has not been disclosed at this time [1, 2].

“More than 100 people, including both customers and employees, were inside the premises”

The lack of casualties despite a high occupancy rate suggests an effective evacuation process. Because the restaurant is located near a high-traffic landmark like Naritasan Shinshoji Temple, the event highlights the critical importance of fire safety protocols in historic commercial districts where dense crowds are common.