A Japanese fire official says at least 12 people are presumed dead and more could be missing after they were trapped by fire on Thursday at a popular animation production studio in Kyoto.

The photo made from video shows the smoke plumes from the building. (Photo: NHK)

Kyoto fire department official Satoshi Fujiwara says 35 others have been injured, some of them critically.

He says firefighters found 12 people who are presumed dead inside the three-story building that was gutted by the blaze.

He says there are several others — up to 18 — who could not be reached but it is not clear if all those had reported to work Thursday.

The man believed to have set the fire, apparently in his 40s, was among the injured and has been taken to a hospital.

Photo: VCG

The fire started at around 10:30 a.m. local time on Thursday morning at a three-story studio of Kyoto Animation Co., known for producing popular TV animation series and artifacts.