TOKYO, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- A fire broke out in a residential building in Higashinari Ward of Japan's Osaka on Wednesday, leaving two dead and another one in critical condition, local media reported.
At approximately 4:20 a.m. local time, emergency services received a report from a nearby resident, alerting them to smoke coming from the building.
The fire originated on the second floor of a three-story house. Firefighters rescued three individuals and transported them to the hospital, but two were pronounced dead, while one remains unconscious and in critical condition, national broadcaster NHK reported.
Authorities are working to confirm the identities of the victims.
The fire occurred in a densely populated residential area, about 500 meters northeast of JR Tamatsukuri Station on the Osaka Loop Line. The flames also spread to a neighboring house, and firefighting efforts are still ongoing, according to the report. ■
