THE death toll of an anime studio blaze in Kyoto, Japan, on Thursday has risen to 25, with 36 others injured, local police said.

The fire at the three-story building of Kyoto Animation Co., ignited by a man with flammable liquid, is the country’s worst case of arson in decades.

Among the injured, 10 suffered from serious injuries in the fire which started at around 10:30 a.m. Thursday morning, according to the police and rescuers.

When the fire started, a total of about 70 people were working in the studio. Many bodies were recovered from the first and second floors of the studio.

According to local media, neighboring households said they heard what sounded like a series of loud explosions and saw thick black smoke billowing from the studio, which is famous for producing popular TV animation series and artifacts.

More than 30 fire engines had to be deployed to the scene to deal with the inferno and as of 12:30 p.m. firefighters were still battling to control the blaze.

Local fire authorities and other officials are still trying to confirm the details and whereabouts of some people thought to have been in the building when the fire started that still remain unaccounted for.

According to local police, a 41-year-old man, identified by his driver’s license, admitted on his way to hospital that he spread a flammable liquid, possibly gasoline, around the building before setting it on fire.

The suspect, also being treated in hospital for injuries sustained in the fire, has been taken into custody, investigators said.

According to police accounts, witnesses at the scene said the suspect was yelling “Die” as he started the fire.

A number of knives and knife-like objects were also found at the scene, although investigators have yet to determine if these belong to the suspect.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called the attack in the city of Kyoto — the latest grisly killing in a nation widely known for its low crime rates — “too appalling for words” and offered condolences.

Kyoto Animation runs studios in Kyoto and nearby Uji, where the company is headquartered. Founded in 1981, the company is well known for its animations released in the 2000s that were popular with younger generations, and also produces related animation artifacts and runs training programs for animators.

(Xinhua)