A fire whipped up by strong winds has so far engulfed about 140 buildings in Itoigawa City on the Japan Sea coast. The fire broke out in a Chinese restaurant at the center of the city in Niigata Prefecture on Thursday.  

    Fanned by strong southerly winds, the fire spread quickly, Japan's Radio (NHK World) reported. Firefighters were still battling with the raging fire. The city has issued an evacuation advisory to about 600 people in 273 nearby households.

    Police said a woman in her 40s was taken to hospital after inhaling smoke. Another person suffered a light injury. Weather officials said gusts of wind at around noon logged up to almost 90 kilometers an hour due to a developing low in the Sea of Japan.

Source: QNA