Tokyo, May 24 (H.S.): A significant fire broke out on May 23, at an industrial facility located merely two kilometers north of Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, which is Japan’s busiest airport and a prominent global aviation hub. The fire started on a conveyor belt inside a four-story factory dedicated to industrial waste processing, prompting considerable flight delays and raising critical safety concerns in the nearby airport area.
Emergency services were alerted around 5 p.m. local time, triggering a large-scale response that involved over 100 fire trucks and hundreds of firefighters. The inferno raged for approximately 13 hours, resulting in the destruction of the building’s second, third, and fourth floors before being nearly extinguished by Saturday morning.
The Tokyo Fire Department (TFD) reported that the expansive nature of the blaze necessitated a significant amount of resources for its containment. Crews worked tirelessly to manage the situation, ensuring the safety of both the industrial area and the surrounding vicinity. As the fire was brought under control, authorities continued to assess the damage and the implications for air travel operations at Haneda Airport.
During firefighting efforts at a factory, a firefighter experienced smoke inhalation but was quickly stabilized and is now in stable condition, with no reported civilian casualties. The factory’s extensive damage complicated firefighting tactics, necessitating careful measures to avoid structural collapse and prevent the fire from spreading further.
Although the blaze occurred outside Haneda Airport’s boundaries, its proximity led to precautionary airspace restrictions and necessary operational adjustments. The dense smoke and emergency vehicle activity resulted in temporary flight delays and logistical disruptions on Friday evening into early Saturday.
The Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) worked closely with Haneda Airport authorities and air traffic control to mitigate passenger inconvenience and ensure safety. Airport officials confirmed that normal flight operations resumed by Saturday afternoon, advising travelers to check with airlines for any potential residual delays.
Haneda Airport, officially known as Tokyo International Airport, opened in 1931 and has undergone significant expansions to accommodate growing domestic and international traffic, including modern terminals built from 1993 to 2019, with the latest Terminal 3 dedicated to low-cost carriers. Celebrated for its exceptional passenger experience and efficiency, Haneda was ranked the second-best airport worldwide in 2021 by the Skytrax World Airport Awards.
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
