Raging flames in northeastern Japan because of a forest fire has scorched the largest area of land in more than 30 years. Local firefighters and the Self-Defence Forces are putting considerable effort into controlling the situation.
The forest fire has spread across at least 1,200 hectares in Ofunato in the past three days, according to local authorities. It has surpassed the earlier record of 1,030 hectares in Kushiro, Hokkaido, set in 1992.
This blaze has affected the largest area since the Heisei era – lasting from 1989 through 2019, the fire and disaster management agency said. One person has died since the forest fire started and more than 80 homes have been destroyed.
The number of helicopters deployed by Japan to fight the fire has increased to more than 15. More than 3,000 residents from at least 1,300 households are asked to seek shelter in places deemed safer at the moment.
