The Yomiuri Shimbun | 5:47 pm, December 22, 2016
A fire raged in the city of Itoigawa, Niigata Prefecture, on Thursday after a Chinese restaurant caught fire at about 10:30 a.m.
As of 3:30 p.m., the fire spread to at least 140 houses and buildings on strong winds, and continued to expand.
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Plumes of smoke are seen in central Itoigawa, Niigata Prefecture, on Thursday afternoon.
Japan sends troops to fight massive fire in city of Itoigawa
The Straits Times 2016Dec22
...Troops were on their way to the coastal city after Niigata Governor Ryuichi Yoneyam requested military aid, an official in the fire division of the prefectural government said...more...