A fire broke out in a high-rise condo in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, on Monday night, causing panic among residents.
The fire department was notified of smoke coming out of the 15th floor of the 31-story condo, Forus Tower Tokorozawa, at around 8:10 p.m. on Monday.
Two residents ¡ª a man in his 50s and a woman in her 40s ¡ª suffered burns and were rushed to a hospital, but their injuries were not serious, the fire department and police officials said.
The condo is in a residential area some 1 km northwest of Seibu Tokorozawa Station. The area was thrown into a turmoil as 15 firetrucks arrived to put out the blaze and residents hurried out of the tower. Local officials set up a temporary evacuation center for the residents.
¡°I was in a room when I noticed loud noises from outside, and then I noticed there was a fire,¡± said a 68-year-old man who escaped from his unit on the 18th floor with his wife. ¡°I heard the alarm bells going off and the announcement urging residents to evacuate,¡± he said, looking shocked.
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