Internet service providers in Japan are being asked to crack down on suicide websites following an incident where 350 people had to be evacuated from a block of flats when a man killed himself with poisonous fumes.

The incident in Otaru, on the northern island of Hokkaido, follows a rash of suicides in April brought about by mixing chemicals and other detergents.

Powerful fumes emitted can seriously harm bystanders and rescuers, according to Japanese authorities.

On Wednesday, Japan's National Police Agency urged internet providers to take action to counter the growing epidemic of detergent-induced suicides. They want ISPs to delete language from websites showing readers how to mix chemicals.

According to reports, some sites provide "poison gas" warnings that viewers can print out and hang on the outside of the door when they kill themselves.

Seiji Yoshikawa, deputy head of the Internet Hot Line, said that sites which promote suicide are "rife on the internet".

Japan has one of the highest suicide rates in the world. In 1998 the number of reported suicides passed the 30,000 mark and have exceeded this every year since.

The Japanese government plans to cut the suicide rate by 20 per cent over the next 10 years, by reducing unemployment, boosting workplace counselling and filtering websites which promote suicide.

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