Husband, 36, and Wife, 37, Die After Seemingly Getting Trapped in Sauna That Caught Fire

A couple in Japan has died after they were reportedly trapped inside a private sauna room that caught fire, according to local reports.

Around 12:25 p.m. local time on Monday, Dec. 15, police and firefighters received an alert that an emergency alarm was sounding at Sauna Tiger in Tokyo’s Akasaka district, according to reports from The Japan Times, The Mainichi and The Asahi Shimbun.

Authorities later found a man and woman unconscious near the door of a private room where the fire had broken out, the outlets reported. The couple — identified as Masanari Matsuda, 36, a company manager, and his wife, Yoko Matsuda, 37, a nail artist — were taken to a hospital, where they later died.

In a statement posted on its website, Sauna Tiger expressed condolences to the families and apologized for the loss of life.

The operator said it is “fully cooperating” with authorities investigating the circumstances of the fire. Sauna Tiger also said it will remain closed for the time being and will issue refunds to customers with existing reservations, adding that supporting the bereaved families is its top priority.

The room involved had reportedly been reserved from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. local time, The Mainichi reported, citing authorities. When firefighters arrived, the doorknob to the private sauna’s entrance was allegedly detached on both sides and found on the floor, The Asahi Shimbun reported, citing investigators.

Police said an emergency button inside the room — which connects to the front desk — appeared to have been pressed. The fire was brought under control at about 1:20 p.m., leaving the sauna’s seating and backrest scorched.

The couple, who lived in Kawasaki in Kanagawa Prefecture, suffered minor burns to their shoulders and backs, the outlet reported. Their deaths were later confirmed at the hospital.

Authorities believe the couple became trapped inside the sauna. The cause of the fire has not been determined.

Sauna Tiger has operated since 2022 and was last inspected in April 2023, The Asahi Shimbun reported, citing the Minato Public Health Center.