A fire sparked panic when it broke out in a shopping district in Japan this morning.

The blaze erupted on the ground floor of a seven-storey building in Soemoncho, Chuo Ward, Osaka City, at around 9:50 am on Monday, August 18.

Authorities said the flames quickly spread to a neighbouring structure near Dotonbori in the Minami district, an area often packed with holidaymakers and shoppers.

Footage shows a plume of smoke rising from the burning establishment, with emergency responders already on site working to contain the blaze.

At least 50 fire engines and other emergency vehicles were dispatched to the scene.

An employee working nearby said: 'Just before 10 am, I heard a loud bang. When I stepped outside, I saw flames shooting up with intense force.'

Another witness added: 'We saw sparks flickering from the first floor where the fire began. The smoke quickly thickened, and people around us began to panic.'

A firefighter was injured while tackling the blaze, and a woman suffered smoke inhalation. Both were taken to the hospital.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.