A fire in Yamaguchi Prefecture has left five people dead, with the deceased identified as two women, one man, and two individuals whose genders remain uncertain, according to local police.
A tragic fire occurred in the early hours of the 20th in Kawabata, Toyoura, Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, claiming the lives of five individuals. The local police reported on the 22nd that among the bodies recovered from the wreckage, two are identified as women, one as a man, while the genders of the remaining two victims are still unknown due to the severe damage to the remains. The police believe these victims may include residents of the house associated with the fire, whose identities are now being closely investigated.
The fire was detected around 2:10 a.m. and took approximately three and a half hours to control. It completely engulfed the temple, Seirin Temple, and a two-story wooden house, resulting in significant property damage across a total area of 731 square meters. Additionally, the flames spread to a nearby warehouse and an abandoned house, intensifying the community's concern regarding the incident.
Authorities are currently working to confirm the identities of the deceased, who are believed to include an 89-year-old unemployed man named Eiko Iwasaki along with other individuals believed to be in their 50s, 40s, and teenagers. The police are racing against time to establish the identities, as they have not been able to contact the known residents who lived in the aforementioned houses, raising concerns among their families and the local community.
