At least four people have been injured in an explosion at a restaurant in a popular entertainment district in Sapporo City, northern Japan.
Firefighters were notified at around 1:30 p.m. Monday about an explosion on the second floor of a building in the Susukino district.
Police and firefighters say three women in their 20s to 40s were preparing to open the restaurant later in the afternoon. A man in his 20s had been working outside the building.
They say all four remain conscious and have been taken to hospitals.
The building is on a national road that features many restaurants. Footage taken at the scene shows windows that have shattered and fallen to the ground.
Police and others say five workers were in the restaurant at the time of the explosion. They suspect that gas caught fire and caused the blast and are investigating.
