Forest Fires in Japan Spread: One Dead and 4,000 Evacuated in Worst Fire in Half a Century

Forest fires in Japan continue to spread, resulting in one fatality and the evacuation of approximately 4,000 residents to safer locations. This incident is being called the worst forest fire Japan has seen in the last 50 years. Thick smoke has been billowing over the forested area north of Ovunato City, as reported by AFB.

The forest fire broke out after Japan experienced its hottest summer on record last year. Climate change has been identified as a key factor driving rising temperatures worldwide. According to Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency, around 2,600 hectares of forest have been burned. This area is more than seven times the size of New York’s Park Center, making it the largest forest fire in Japan since 1975. At that time, 2,700 hectares of forest were burned in Kushiro, located on the northern island of Hokkaido.

As of Sunday, the fire is estimated to have damaged at least 80 buildings, though the exact number is still being verified. Military helicopters and firefighters are still working tirelessly to contain the blaze in the Ovunato area, but the fire continues to spread. The Japanese government has deployed 2,000 firefighters since Thursday to combat the disaster.

Last week, AF reported that firefighters from 14 regions across Japan, including Tokyo, have been called in to help control the flames raging near Ovunato City. The operation involves 16 helicopters, one of which was provided by the military.

The forest fire near Ovunato City has been burning since Thursday and has already consumed approximately 21,100 hectares of land. By Sunday, it was estimated that 84 buildings had been damaged. Around 2,000 residents have been urged to evacuate, while more than 1,200 people have been relocated to shelters.

This disaster comes as Ovunato recorded only 2.5 mm of rainfall in February, the lowest since 1967, when 4.4 mm of rainfall was recorded. The average normal rainfall for the area is 41 mm, highlighting the severe drought conditions that have contributed to the fire’s rapid spread.