TOKYO – The Tokyo metropolitan government has started examining the safety conditions of the capital’s hot spring facilities, officials said.
The move follows an explosion at a spa in Shibuya Ward that killed three people.
Officials decided a swift investigation and heightened awareness among spa operators were needed to prevent another disaster.
Ashai Shimbun reported that there are no regulations in place regarding the safety of hot spring facilities after they open.
A machine to pump underground hot spring water was set up in the annex of the Shibuya Shoto Onsen Shiespa facility.
A document submitted to the metropolitan government by the spa operator said the facility used a device that separated natural gas from the hot spring water.
Police suspect the safety mechanism did not function properly, causing natural gas to fill the annex. That led to the explosion.
The metropolitan government will check if other facilities are using gas separators and if they are working properly.
