US EditionNorthern 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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49 Articles
The situation in northeastern Japan has been getting worse for days. The fire brigade is on the ground and in the air with hundreds of operatives. Around 2600 people had to be evacuated.
Violent forest fires are progressing on Friday towards a small town in northern Japan, pushing the authorities to call more than 2,500 people to evacuate their homes, according to local media and authorities.
Northern Japan wildfires prompt mass evacuations as flames spread
Two forest fires continued to spread toward residential areas in a northern Japanese town on Friday, prompting authorities to expand evacuation orders to more than 3,000 people, with the blazes still uncontained, media reports said.
Two wildfires have broken out in Iwate Prefecture, in northeastern Japan. The flames continue to spread and are now approaching a city. Authorities have ordered the evacuation of over 2,500 people due to fears of the situation escalating.
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