16 customers, staff sickened by fumes at Niigata izakaya

Sixteen customers and staff were taken to hospital after suffering carbon monoxide poisoning at an "izakaya" in Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture.

According to police and firefighters, the incident occurred on Saturday night at around 7:30 p.m. An employee called 119 to report several customers and some staff were vomiting and complaining of headaches, NTV reported Sunday. Police said more than 20 people were affected, and of those, 16 were taken to hospital.

The izakaya has three floors with about 50 guests at the time. Police said seafood was being cooked at guests' tables in a room on the second floor, using a charcoal fire. The izakaya's windows were not open.

© Japan Today