A strong odor at the Ginza Six shopping mall in central Tokyo prompted emergency calls and left more than a dozen people complaining of feeling unwell Monday, police and fire authorities said.
According to reports from NHK, a woman called the police around noon to report a ¡°pungent odor¡± and that ¡°everyone was coughing,¡± according to the Metropolitan Police Department.
Similar complaints were also made at a nearby police box, TBS reported.
The incident occurred near a bank¡¯s ATM area on the first floor. Several people complained of symptoms including sore throats after police officers and emergency personnel arrived at the scene.
According to TBS, 15 people have reported feeling unwell, and 53 fire department vehicles, including fire engines, had been dispatched.
Police and the Tokyo Fire Department are investigating the cause of the odor. Authorities are also looking into reports that someone may have sprayed an unidentified substance at the scene.
Ginza Six is one of Tokyo¡¯s best-known luxury shopping malls.
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