42 injured in the violent explosion in Japan

A suspected gas explosion has destroyed a wooden building, a bar, an estate agency and a clinic in the north of Japan.

The write news agency the Associated Press.

at Least 42 people have been injured in the explosion, which took place on Sunday evening local time in the city of Sapporo, capital of Hokkaido.

According to eyewitnesses smelled of gas in the area after the noise, and the buildings ' gas pipelines are confirmed destroyed.

the Explosion triggered a fire that took firefighters six hours to get to grips with. Residents in the area were warned of the danger of a further explosion.

the Windows were blown out, and photos can be seen more cars, which is partly covered by pieces of wood from the collapsed buildings. Photo: AP

most of The injured have been less damage. A male employee of the real estate firm, is however in critical condition.

I heard a bang that sounded like thunder. My apartment was shaking, says one man who lives nearby, to the newspaper the Japan Times.

the Other tells, that they immediately thought that an earthquake had hit the area.

the Ceiling fell down, then fell the entire second floor, and we were all locked up. We managed to get out, after all, kicked a hole in the walls, says a person who was in the bar and was later treated for bruises at a hospital.

In February, the Sapporo hit by a second fire. Here lost 11 people in a fire at a nursing home.