A wildfire in Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture, Japan has been ongoing for several days, and the fire area has further expanded. The city government continues to issue evacuation orders, urging nearly 1,900 households, totalling about 4,600 people, to evacuate. Ofunato City has opened 12 shelters, accommodating around 1,200 people temporarily.
As of 6:00 am local time today (March 3, local time), the fire has expanded to 2,100 hectares. It has been reported that this is the largest fire in Japan in terms of area since the Kushiro wildfire in Hokkaido in 1992. Authorities have mobilized nearly 1,700 firefighters and deployed 18 helicopters for firefighting.
Authorities recently found a male body in the Ayari district of Minamisanriku Town, with at least 84 houses destroyed by the fire. The exact extent of the damage still needs to be confirmed.
Due to the wildfire, some local railways and buses have been suspended or diverted. The fire department is actively fighting the fire on the ground and from the air to prevent it from spreading to residential areas.
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Wildfires ravage Iwate Prefecture: 84 buildings destroyed, over 2,000 residents evacuated
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