Firefighters were engaged in a fierce battle on Tuesday against Japan’s most severe wildfire in half a century. The blaze has already claimed one life and prompted the evacuation of nearly 4,000 local residents.
Since Thursday, the fire has ravaged over 5,200 acres near the northern city of Ofunato, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency (FDMA). Ofunato, typically at its driest from January to March, experienced the least amount of rainfall last month for any February in more than 20 years – recording a mere 2.5 millimeters compared to the average 41 millimeters.
Currently, around 4,600 people are under government-issued evacuation orders as the fire continues to spread. Approximately 2,000 residents have left to stay with friends or relatives, while over 1,200 have taken refuge in shelters, according to officials.
The fires are burning within a forested area of Iwate Prefecture, Japan’s second-largest prefecture with the second-lowest population density. So far, over 80 buildings have been damaged, though the FDMA notes that the full extent of the damage is still being assessed.
The year 2024 was Japan’s hottest year on record, a trend seen in many other countries as well.
