Dozens of firefighters have been battling a blaze at Tokyo’s Tsukiji fishmarket, the world’s largest and one of the capital’s most popular tourist sites.<br /><br />Grey smoke billowed over the city as the fire spread through five buildings covering around 300 square metres.<br /><br />The fire broke out just before 5 p.m. and 44 fire trucks were on the scene. But efforts to contain the flames were hampered by the area’s narrow streets and tight-knit buildings.<br /><br />The cause was not immediately known and there were no immediate reports of injuries or people trapped.<br /><br />The 80-year-old Tsukiji fish market draws tens of thousands of visitors a year to its warren of stalls laden with exotic species of fish and fresh sushi, part of a tourism boom that is a key part of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s economic plan.<br /><br />The fire was in Tsukiji’s “outer” market – an area packed with informal restaurants where tourists can tuck into fresh seafood plates and sushi.<br /><br />The Tsukiji “inner” market, where most seafood wholesalers are located and tuna auctions are carried out at dawn, was not affected.<br /><br />In June, Tokyo’s governor announced a long-delayed plan to move Tsukiji from its current site on some of the city’s most prime real estate to a man-made island with contaminated soil.<br /><br />The outer market is not scheduled to move.<br /><br />Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike said the market’s age and vulnerability to a big earthquake meant it had to be rebuilt.<br />
