Tokyo (TDI): Japan is grappling with its largest wildfire in more than three decades, as a blaze continues to devastate the forested area of Ofunato, a coastal city on the east coast of Japan’s main island.
The wildfire, which has been burning for several days, has resulted in one death, forced thousands of people to evacuate, and destroyed dozens of homes.
The blaze, which has already burned around 1,800 hectares, seems in mood of slowing down, with authorities stating it expanded by an additional 400 hectares since Saturday.
The fire’s rapid spread and destructive power are putting considerable strain on firefighting efforts.
The fire was first reported on Wednesday, The Fire and Disaster Management Agency said.
By Wednesday night, about 84 homes had been damaged.
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Authorities found a man’s body while inspecting the affected area on Thursday, though the identity of the deceased has not been disclosed.
As of Sunday morning, evacuation orders have been issued to around 4,600 people, with 1,200 residents sheltering in emergency accommodations.
Firefighting operations have been ramped up, with about 1,700 firefighters from fourteen different prefectures dispatched to battle the fire.
Helicopters have also been deployed to help in the effort, as aerial footage showed firefighting aircraft circling above the rising smoke from the inferno.
It is unclear how much progress has been made in extinguishing the blaze as authorities did not provide a full update on the extent of damage since Wednesday.
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The cause of the devastating blaze is still under investigation.
This fire is the largest forest blaze Japan has faced since a 1992 wildfire in Hokkaido, which destroyed over 1,000 hectares of land.
The current blaze in Ofunato is exacerbated by the region’s unusually dry weather.
Last month was reported as the driest February in more than two decades, with very little rainfall.
