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2021 Osaka building fire

Coordinates: 34°41′52″N 135°29′45″E / 34.6977°N 135.4957°E / 34.6977; 135.4957
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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Julian Grybowski (talk | contribs) at 12:02, 30 December 2021 (Clearer prose around the addition of the suspect’s death). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

2021 Osaka building fire
The building after the fire
Map
LocationNishi Umeda clinic for the mind and body, Kita-ku, Osaka, Japan
Coordinates34°41′52″N 135°29′45″E / 34.6977°N 135.4957°E / 34.6977; 135.4957
Date17 December 2021 (2021-12-17)
10:20 a.m. (JST)
Attack type
Arson
Deaths26 (including the suspect)
Injured2
AccusedMorio Tanimoto

On 17 December 2021, a fire occurred in a psychiatric clinic located on the fourth floor of the Dojima Kita Building in Kita-ku, Osaka, Japan.[1][2] The fire is suspected to have been started deliberately. Twenty-five people were killed and three more were injured, including the suspect.[3][4][5] The suspect, 61-year-old Mori Tanimoto, a former patient, was arrested at the scene and subsequently hospitalized in critical condition.

On December 30, Tanimoto died of injuries sustained in the fire.[6]

Fire

On 17 December 2021, at 10:20 a.m. local time, a fire broke out at an eight-story building in Kita, a ward of Osaka, Japan. The fire broke out in a psychiatric clinic that is located on the fourth floor,[7] called Nishi Umeda Kokoro to Karada no Kurinikku (西梅田こころとからだのクリニック, Nishi Umeda Clinic for the Mind and Body).[1] The clinic primarily treats patients suffering from depression and panic disorder, but also physical ailments, including anemia and sleep apnea.[3] The clinic had a counselling session at 10:00 a.m. local time for patients intending to re-enter the workforce. This session was the reason that so many victims were at the clinic during the fire.[2][8]

According to two survivors who were at the reception desk, a man walked into the clinic carrying a paper bag, which he placed next to a heater at the reception desk. He kicked the bag, spilling and igniting the liquid inside the bag, and the entire floor was set on fire.[2][9][10][7]

Dozens of firefighters rushed to the building and the blaze was brought under control in approximately thirty minutes.[8] The firefighters said that seventy fire trucks and ambulances rushed to the scene.[11] Most of the exterior of the building remained intact, as the fire was limited to a 20-square-meter area.[12] The department received a report on the fire at 10:18 and the fire was nearly extinguished by 10:46.[13]

The victims gasped for air and had difficulties escaping, as there was only one escape route, with the emergency stairs and elevators being located outside the clinic.[14]

Victims

Twenty-four people were confirmed dead at the scene of the fire, while four more were injured,[3] including the suspect.[15] Fourteen of the deceased were men and ten were women. The ages of the victims ranged from twenty to sixty.[16] All of the victims were patients or staff at the clinic.[2]

The four injured include the suspect, who is hospitalised in critical condition with severe burns, two women who are unconscious and in critical condition, and a third woman who sustained minor injuries.[2] On 21 December, a woman in her 20s who was in critical condition with cardiac arrest died at 2:50 a.m., bringing the number killed to 25.[4] Two people, including the suspect, remain in critical condition.[5]

A doctor who treated some of the casualties told reporters that many of the victims, as suggested by their limited external injuries, died from carbon monoxide poisoning.[16] Osaka police also said the cause of death was carbon monoxide poisoning.[17]

Investigation

Police stated that they suspect that the fire was arson, and are said to be investigating further.[10] Traces of a highly flammable liquid, most likely to be gasoline (petrol), were found at the site. Traces on the clinic's ceiling and the speed of the fire support the suspicion of arson.[2]

On 18 December, police searched the suspect's house in Nishiyodogawa-ku, Osaka. The suspect had moved into the house a few months prior to the fire.[2] Half an hour prior to the building fire, there was a small fire at the suspect's house.[14] The suspect is 61 years old and is a former patient of the clinic;[18][15] he was later identified as Morio Tanimoto, a retired metal worker,[19] and had been a patient of the clinic for two to three years.[20]

Police stated the attack may have been a copycat of the 2019 Kyoto Animation arson attack, as police found an old newspaper piece on the Kyoto attack in the suspect's home. In November, the suspect purchased 10 litres of petrol in what appears to be an act of preparation.[21] Following the Kyoto attack, purchasing petrol in containers requires an ID and an explanation to the seller. Tanimoto produced his ID and said that the purchased petrol was for his motorcycle.[22]

In 2011, Tanimoto stabbed his own son in the head in an apparent forced suicide. He served prison time for this act.[21]

Experts were surprised by the fire's high death toll.[14] The authorities are investigating how victims became trapped and the floor filled up with smoke so quickly.[14] According to officials, the building had no previous fire code violations.[14]

A security camera in the building showed that Tanimoto tossed a bag, probably containing petrol, at the emergency exit. Tape is also believed to have been used to impede the use of the door. It is believed this was done so that clinic occupants would have a hard time evacuating. Investigators also found evidence of additional traps in the building.[23][24] The suspect was found to possess a knife, and blocked a person who tried to run back towards the elevator. The victims, with the path to the exits blocked by fire, went into inner windowless rooms in the back of the clinic where they died.[17]

As of 27 December 2021, Tanimoto is in critical condition due to carbon monoxide poisoning and has cerebral hypoxia, severe brain damage, and it is possible he will not regain consciousness. While it may be impossible to ever question him, police are working on evidence against him.[25]

On 30 December 2021, Tanimoto died in hospital as a result of injuries sustained in the fire. Police stated that Tanimoto was rescued from the fire showing no vital signs, and he was subsequently put on life support in hospital. The cause of death was recorded as carbon monoxide poisoning. [26]

Reactions

Prime minister Fumio Kishida said that "A very tragic incident occurred. First of all, we must make efforts to prevent a recurrence by grasping the actual situation and clarifying the cause and circumstances."[27]

Osaka governor Hirofumi Yoshimura wrote that "The municipal fire department is investigating the cause of the fire. I have received a report that Osaka police is investigating the fire as a possible arson".[28][12] Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications Yasushi Kaneko ordered the inspection of some 30,000 buildings in Japan that have three or more floors, but only a single stairwell.[19]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Tanaka, Chisato; Yamaguchi, Mari (18 December 2021). "Japan police search house of man linked to deadly Osaka fire". ABC News. Associated Press. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Clinic patient emerges as key suspect in deadly arson case | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis". The Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  3. ^ a b c "24 confirmed dead in suspected case of arson in Osaka". The Japan Times. 17 December 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  4. ^ a b "大阪ビル放火殺人、新たに女性1人が死亡 事件の犠牲者は25人に". The Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Osaka clinic fire suspect may have copied Kyoto Animation arson attack". The Japan Times. 21 December 2021. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  6. ^ "大阪ビル放火殺人、容疑者の男が死亡　事件の解明困難になる恐れ". The Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Dozens killed in Japan building fire, arson suspected". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  8. ^ a b "24 dead in Osaka building fire, arson suspected". NHK WORLD-JAPAN News. 17 December 2021. Retrieved 18 December 2021. The fire began on the fourth floor of the eight-story building shortly before 10:30 a.m. on Friday. It was brought under control in about 30 minutes.
  9. ^ "Police identify suspect in Japan arson attack that killed 24". The National. 18 December 2021. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  10. ^ a b "Japan: At least 27 feared dead in Osaka building fire". BBC News. 17 December 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  11. ^ Thomas, Jake (17 December 2021). "More than two dozen dead in suspected arson fire in Osaka, Japan". UPI. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  12. ^ a b "Twenty-four killed in fire at Osaka office building – Taipei Times". www.taipeitimes.com. 18 December 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  13. ^ CNN, Junko Ogura. "Up to 27 feared dead in building fire in Japan". CNN News. Retrieved 17 December 2021. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  14. ^ a b c d e "Police search house of man linked to deadly Osaka fire". NPR. Associated Press. 18 December 2021. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  15. ^ a b "Possible suspect in critical condition after Osaka clinic fire kills 24". The Japan Times. 18 December 2021. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  16. ^ a b "【速報】殺人と放火疑いで「捜査本部」設置 大阪・北新地のビル火災で２４人死亡確認". MBS News (in Japanese). 17 December 2021. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  17. ^ a b "Police: Arson suspect set fire to emergency exit, carried knife". Asahi Shimbun. 23 December 2021. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  18. ^ Jacobson, Don (18 December 2021). "Police suspect arson by 61-year-old clinic patient in deadly Osaka fire". UPI. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  19. ^ a b "Police identify suspect in deadly Osaka arson fire". NPR. 19 December 2021. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  20. ^ https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14511411
  21. ^ a b Yamaguchi, Mari (20 December 2021). "Osaka fire suspect might have copied Kyoto Animation attack". Associated Press.
  22. ^ "Police: Osaka fire suspect may have copied Kyoto arsonist". The Asahi Shimbun. 21 December 2021.
  23. ^ "Osaka arsonist threw gasoline at emergency exit apparently to prevent victims escaping". The Mainichi. 21 December 2021.
  24. ^ "Police: Arson suspect blocked victims' escape, fixed fire hydrant". The Asahi Shimbun. 22 December 2021.
  25. ^ https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14511411
  26. ^ "大阪のビル放火殺人事件、谷本盛雄容疑者が入院先で死亡…動機などの全容解明困難に". 30 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  27. ^ "Arson suspected after 24 confirmed dead in Osaka clinic fire". Japan Today. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  28. ^ Hirofumi Yoshimura [@hiroyoshimura] (17 December 2021). 本日発生した火災によりお亡くなりになられた方のご冥福をお祈り申し上げます。現在も各医療機関で懸命の救命活動が行われています。お一人でも多くの命が救われることを心から祈ります。出火時に消防、救急、DMATが出動、現在、市消防が出火原因を調査中、府警は放火の疑いで捜査中と聞いています。 (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved 21 December 2021 – via Twitter.
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