Story Archive

Booming Business

Two employees from Apaman, a real estate management company, were cleaning out a pub next door to their office in Sapporo, Japan. As part of that process, they deodorized the pub using a special spray can: once the button on top is pushed, the can sprays continually until it’s empty. For some reason, they used “about 100” of the spray cans — with the doors and windows closed. The fumes built up and, when they reached the water heater, exploded. The building was gutted by fire and the pub, the real estate office, and a medical clinic in the building were all destroyed. No one was killed, but 42 people were injured. “We want to offer our sincere apologies to the victims of the explosion,” Apaman said in a statement. The space was “scheduled to be renovated in the near future.” (RC/Kyodo) ...Renovations may take a little longer than scheduled.