A fire whipped up by strong winds has so far engulfed about 140 buildings in Itoigawa City on the Japan Sea coast.
The fire broke out in a Chinese restaurant at the center of the city in Niigata Prefecture around 10:30 AM on Thursday.
Fanned by strong southerly winds, the fire spread quickly.
As of 4:30 PM, firefighters were still battling with the raging fire. The city has issued an evacuation advisory to about 600 people in 273 nearby households.
Police said a woman in her 40s was taken to hospital after inhaling smoke. Another person suffered a light injury.
Weather officials said gusts of wind at around noon logged up to almost 90 kilometers an hour due to a developing low in the Sea of Japan.
Source: NHK Image: ANN
