AN OIL TANK EXPLODED AT A TOA OIL REFINERY IN THE JAPANESE CITY OF KAWASAKI ON SUNDAY, BUT JUST OVER TWO HOURS LATER THE FIRE WAS NEARLY OUT, POLICE AND FIRE OFFICIALS SAID. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE SPOKESMAN IN KAWASAKI, WHICH BORDERS TOKYO, SAID THE EXPLOSION BLEW THE TOP OFF THE TANK, SENDING CLOUDS OF BLACK SMOKE BILLOWING INTO THE AIR. "THE FIRE IS NEARLY OUT, HOWEVER, AND THERE IS NO DANGER OF IT SPREADING TO OTHER TANKS," HE SAID, ADDING THAT FIRE TRUCKS WOULD BE SPRAYING THE TANK WITH WATER FOR AN HOUR OR TWO MORE TO COOL IT DOWN STILL FURTHER. A KAWASAKI FIRE OFFICIAL SAID THERE CURRENTLY WAS NO SMOKE VISIBLE OVER THE REFINERY. TELEVISION FOOTAGE SHOWED THE TOP OF THE TANK CRUMPLED WITH STEAM RISING, REUTERES REPORTED.
