A fire broke out at a building in a popular shopping district in Japan, causing panic among tourists and locals nearby.

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 black smoke billowing into the sky as firefighters battled the blaze.

At least 51 fire engines and a helicopter were deployed.

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.'

Local media reported that two firefighters died while trying to extinguish the flames. A woman and three other crew members were treated in the hospital for smoke inhalation.

Around 40 square metres of property, including part of the building and the adjacent establishment, were damaged before the fire was mostly brought under control after nearly three hours.

The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.