Casualties reported in Utsunomiya rock park explosions

TOKYO, Japan - In a shocking incident in Japan’s Utsunomiya city, multiple explosions went off almost simultaneously on Sunday, killing one person and leaving two others injured.

According to the fire department officials that rushed to the spot after the blasts went off at 11.30 am local time - the explosions took place at a park in the city which is in Tochigi prefecture.

The city, Utsunomiya, that houses approximately 500,000 people - is located approximately 70 miles north of Tokyo.

Emergency services confirmed that two people had been gravely injured and one was dead.

Japan’s public broadcaster NHK World revealed images from the blast site that showed two burnt-out cars and efforts by fire fighters to put out the flames. Reports also added that the blasts struck a car parking lot and a bicycle parking space at the park.

While initial reports said that there were two blasts, later a camera at the station was said to have picked up the sound of three explosions. 

The broadcaster further reported that the explosions had occurred in a space of approximately one minute and 15 seconds. 

NHK also pointed out that the body of one victim was found in the bicycle parking area, burned and dismembered. 

The Tochigi prefectural police said that they believed the body was that of a 72-year-old former member of the Self-Defense Forces living in Utsunomiya.

One of the local fire department officials said, “The sex and ages of the three are not known yet.” 

While the police have cordoned off the area, there were no immediate statements made on the cause of the explosions. Authorities said that the probe had been launched.