TOKYO, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Sixteen people were injured in an explosion at an iron factory on Tuesday morning in Japan's northernmost Hokkaido prefecture, local media quoted first responders as saying.
According to local reports, a furnace exploded at the iron factory in Asahikawa at 8:30 a.m. local time (2330 GMT Monday) with the injury count quickly rising from five to 16 with at least one person seriously injured, firefighters on the scene said.
Firefighters have cordoned off the area around the factory and advised local residents to evacuate in case there are further explosions.
The blast at the factory, which is located 2 km from JR Asahikawa Station, has not affected the train line's operations, local media said.
