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GOTEMBA, Shizuoka -- Six people were injured in an explosion while using portable gas stoves in the parking lot of Fuji International Speedway on Sunday afternoon, police said.

According to police, those seriously injured were: Mutsumi Koguchi, 28, from the Tochigi Prefecture town of Takanezawa; Yuka Mizugaki, 19, from the Ibaraki Prefecture city of Chikusei; Masatoshi Kawakami, 25, from the Ibaraki Prefecture city of Tsuchiura; and Yumi Miyoshi, 26, from Utsunomiya. A 33-year-old female nursery teacher from Nagoya's Moriyama Ward and a 44-year-old female company employee from Tokyo's Nerima Ward also sustained minor injuries.

The six people mostly suffered burns to their faces and hands. Their injuries are reportedly not life-threatening.

The victims, who visited the speedway in the Shizuoka Prefecture town of Oyama to watch a race there, were barbecuing in the parking lot using three portable gas stoves when a butane gas cartridge in one of the stoves exploded, police said. A 30-centimeter-diameter frying pan was reportedly being used over the one that exploded.

Police are currently investigating the cause of the explosion, believing that the gas cartridge exploded apparently after being overheated by the pan that was covering the cartridge section.

Recently, there have been growing numbers of explosions caused by incorrect use of portable gas stoves, such as using large iron plates and pots that cover gas cartridge sections or placing iron plates over two stoves. Many manufacturers are now urging customers to properly use their portable gas stoves and cartridges.