A: Hey, did you hear about the news from Japan?
B: Nope, what's up?

A: There was an explosion in a restaurant in Sapporo City! Four people got hurt.
B: Oh no, that's terrible! Who were they and what happened exactly?

A: Well, they were preparing to open the restaurant later when it blew up. Three women in their 20s to 40s and a man in his 20s got injured. But all of them are still conscious and have been taken to hospitals.
B: That's a relief to hear that they're okay. What caused the explosion?

A: Looks like gas caught fire and caused the blast. They're investigating now. The building is on a busy road with many restaurants, and footage shows broken windows from the impact.
B: Wow, I hope they find out what happened soon so no one else gets hurt. Thanks for telling me about it!

A: You're welcome! Stay safe and have a good day!

At least four people have been injured in an explosion at a restaurant in a popular entertainment district in Sapporo City, northern Japan.



Firefighters were notified at around 1:30 p.m. Monday about an explosion on the second floor of a building in the Susukino district.



Police and firefighters say three women in their 20s to 40s were preparing to open the restaurant later in the afternoon. A man in his 20s had been working outside the building.



They say all four remain conscious and have been taken to hospitals.



The building is on a national road that features many restaurants. Footage taken at the scene shows windows that have shattered and fallen to the ground.



Police and others say five workers were in the restaurant at the time of the explosion. They suspect that gas caught fire and caused the blast and are investigating.