Kyoto fire – At least 23 feared dead and 30 injured ‘as maniac screaming ‘die’ sets fire to animation studio’

AT least 23 people are feared dead after a suspected arson attack at a famous animation studio in Japan.

Local cops have arrested a 41-year-old man who allegedly burst into the studio shouting "die" as he started the fire inside the Kyoto building this morning.

The blaze broke out at a three-story building of Kyoto Animation in Uji city in southern Kyoto.

Cops have said the suspect spread an unidentified liquid that set off the blaze.

Witnesses who were working in units nearby have also described hearing an explosion.

Around 35 people have been rushed to hospital, some of them in a critical condition, while another 30 are thought to be unaccounted for.

Japanese officials said at least 23 were dead or in "cardio-pulmonary arrest", a formulation used in Japan before a death has been confirmed by a doctor.

Kyoto Fire Department official Satoshi Fujiwara said up to 18 people could not be reached during the blaze but it was not clear if they had reported to work.

The suspect was also injured and taken to a hospital and cops have arrested a man on suspicion of arson.

Footage on NHK showed grey smoke billowing from the charred building.

Police are also reported to have found knives at the scene.

Rescue officials set up a tent outside the studio building to provide first aid and help those injured.

Fire department officials say more than 70 people were in the building at the time of the fire, but most of them ran outside.

A man who was working at an exhibition nearby told Japanese outlet NHK: "I was in the office at around 10:30, I heard a sudden explosion.

"When I went outside, the fire was on the 2nd and 3rd floors of the building, [people] were sheltering.

"The smoke was rising, so I immediately called the fire department."

A woman who lives nearby said: "The fire brigade was carrying a stretcher to help the people in the building.

"I'm very scared that there is such a big fire."

The fire was almost extinguished hours later, and firefighters were searching for anyone left behind.

Kyoto Animation, better known as KyoAni, was founded in 1981 as an animation and comic book production studio.

It is known for mega-hit stories featuring high school girls, including "Lucky Star," "K-On!" and "Haruhi Suzumiya."

Rescue operations are still ongoing.

A GoFundMe page to support victims of the fire has been set up by Sentai Filmworks, a North American distributor for Kyoto Animation based in Houston, Texas.

The page had already raised £115,000 from over 4,000 donations within hours of being set up.