Japan: BLACK SMOKE AND FLAMES ERUPT FROM QUAKE-DAMAGED CHIMNEY AT JAPAN PAPER FACTORY.

Kumamoto, Japan - September 03, 2026 JAPAN YATSUSHIRO FACTORY FIRE Dramatic footage shows huge plumes of black smoke and flames rising from the chimney of the Nippon Paper Industries factory in Yatsushiro, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. The fire broke out on September 3 while workers were carrying out demolition work on a 110-metre chimney damaged in the July 28 Kumamoto earthquake. Ten workers were at the site when the fire started, but all of them evacuated safely and no injuries were reported. The blaze was brought under control after several hours and was fully extinguished at around 12:30 a.m. on September 4, roughly six and a half hours after it began. The damaged chimney was being dismantled as part of the recovery work following the devastating earthquake. Another chimney at the factory had collapsed during the quake, killing nine people. Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire. Initial reports have linked the incident to the ongoing chimney dismantling work, but the exact cause has not yet been officially determined. Video Credit: [FILMER NAME / @HANDLE]