As the nation struggles with its biggest wildfire in more than 30 years, hundreds of people have been forced to leave the northern Japanese capital Ofunato.
Almost 2, 000 people reportedly eluded the areas ‘ evacuation to homes, according to authorities, while more than 1, 200 were also informed that family or friends had fled the area.
The fire, which erupted on Wednesday in the forests around Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture, is still ignitable and has already scorched an estimated 1,800 hectares ( 4,450 acres ), making it the most severe wildfire in the nation since 1992.
Local authorities discovered a damaged system in the damaged area, and officials confirmed that at least one person has died. Around 1,700 firefighters from across Japan have been dispatched to have the flames, and more than 80 properties have been damaged.
The size of the affected area is still being evaluated, but it is the largest since the 1992 fire, which had burned 1,030 hectares in Kushiro, Hokkaido, according to a fire and crisis management firm director, according to a spokeswoman from the agency’s flames and disaster management.
As military aircraft worked to smother the flames from below, thick columns of white dust engulfed the mountains on aerial footage from NHK.
Around 2, 000 people are seeking shelter with friends and family, and more than 1, 200 have taken sanctuary in emergency shelters.
The wildfire’s origin is still unidentified. According to The Guardian, Japan experienced nearly 1,300 wildfires in 2023, most of which occurred in the February to April time when the heat dries out and the winds increase.
Regulators are working to control the blaze, and they are urging people to stay on the lookout as high winds continue to spread the flames.
