Early on the morning of the 9th, residents of the Nishinomiya district in Sapporo reported hearing an explosion and seeing flames emanating from a house. The residence of 62-year-old Masami Kazama was completely destroyed in the fire, and a body was discovered in the remnants. Kazama's wife, in her 60s, is currently unaccounted for, while Kazama's daughter in her 20s and two neighboring women were injured but not in critical condition.

Authorities, including police and fire departments, received calls from residents reporting a gas-like smell prior to the explosion. The blast has not only resulted in the total destruction of Kazama's home but also caused significant damage to surrounding structures, with windows shattered across a wide area. Investigators are treating the incident as an explosion and are working to establish the cause of the fire.

One local resident described the sound of the explosion as a powerful jolt reminiscent of the Ibaraki earthquake, which startled her awake. She expressed her shock and concern over the occurrence of such an incident in her neighborhood, emphasizing her desire to understand the cause behind this alarming event.