More than 20 feared dead in building fire in Osaka

Firefighters at the building in Osaka (Kyodo News/AP)

More than 20 people were feared dead after a fire in a building in Osaka in western Japan, fire department officials said, as police investigated arson as a possible cause.

The fire started on Friday on the fourth floor of an eight-storey building in the shopping and entertainment area of Kitashinchi, Osaka city fire department official Akira Kishimoto said.