Northern Japan Wildfires Prompt Mass Evacuations as Flames Spread
Firefighters and Self-Defense Forces helicopters are battling the blazes as officials say more than 2,500 residents are under evacuation orders.
- On Friday, wildfires in Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, spread toward the town center, prompting authorities to urge more than 2,500 residents to evacuate their homes.
- Two mountain fires began Wednesday afternoon in Kozuchi and Kirikiri districts roughly 8 kilometers apart; by Friday morning, they had burned over 400 hectares, government spokesman Minoru Kihara said.
- Around 700 firefighters and 13 aircraft, including Self-Defense Forces helicopters, are working to extinguish the blazes that have destroyed seven structures.
- As of Friday morning, 329 residents were taking shelter, with a 63-year-old woman stating, "I can't do anything, even work."
- The town remains under a Japan Meteorological Agency advisory for subsequent earthquakes following Monday's magnitude 7.7 quake off the Tohoku region, compounding disaster risks.
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59 Articles
Fires in northern Japan have been raging for five days, with dry weather and winds contributing to the spread of the flames.
Hundreds of firefighters are fighting violent forest fires in northern Japan.
More than a thousand firefighters in northern Japan are battling two forest fires that are spreading toward residential areas and have forced the evacuation of more than 3,000 residents for the fourth day. The total area affected is the third largest in the country's history.
Japan has generally suffered few wildfires compared to other parts of the world. However, with climate change, their frequency has increased, especially in the early spring months, before the wet rainy season begins. The post Japan: Two large fires spread to residential areas – Thousands evacuated appeared first on in.gr.
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