Explosion rips through Tokyo spa, one dead

TOKYO, June 19 (Reuters) An explosion ripped through a women's-only hot spring spa in downtown Tokyo today, killing at least one woman and injuring at least four other people, police said.

A boiler in the annex to the spa's main building had exploded, sending the roof and walls of the building flying, media reports said.

Live TV cameras showed workers carrying out at least one injured person and others searching the debris under and around the building -- only the metal skeleton of which remained -- to see if others were trapped.

Media reports said at least one person was believed trapped in the basement, although a fire department spokeswoman could not confirm the reports.

At least six ambulances and 10 fire engines were at the site, a Reuters witness said.

''When it exploded, the ground started shaking and it was amazing that I could keep standing,'' said Masami Hanahara, 61, who was about 10 metres away from the building at the time.

''Rubble flew everywhere. I saw two people under the rubble.'' At least one nearby building also appeared to have suffered damage.

''I live in an apartment building quite some distance away, and it shook a lot,'' said one man told public broadcaster NHK.

''There was some smell, as if maybe oil was burning.'' REUTERS RJ RK1308