KYOTO, Japan 18 Jul (ANA) - At least 23 people are feared to have died and dozens more have been injured in a fire at an animation studio in the Japanese city of Kyoto.

Fire department official Satoshi Fujiwara said several other people were missing.

Kyodo news agency reported that the bodies of up to 10 people were found on the second floor of the building, citing police. 

The blaze broke out at 10:30am local time on Thursday after a man burst into Kyoto Animation and reportedly shouted "die!" as he poured what appeared to be petrol around the studio.

More than 70 people were in the three-storey building at the time, with many fleeing the premises when the alarm was raised.

Mr Fujiwara said up to 18 people were not accounted for, but it was unclear if all those had reported to work.

A further 36 people were hurt in the blaze, some of them critically with many of them suffering from burns.(ANA)

FA/ANA/18 July 2019------