A massive wildfire in northeastern Japan has continued to expand, burning over 2,100 hectares of land since last week and threatening more homes, according to Kyodo News.
The fire, which broke out in Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture, has forced evacuations as it spreads toward the Pacific coast. Firefighters from across the country, along with Self-Defense Forces (SDF) aircraft, are engaged in intense firefighting efforts to contain the flames.
Government Response
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has vowed to “deploy all firefighting and Self-Defense Forces (SDF) capabilities” to prevent the wildfire from devastating residential areas.
On Friday, the Prime Minister’s Office convened an emergency ministerial meeting, ensuring a coordinated disaster response. The government has:
✔ Dispatched an Emergency Fire Response Team
✔ Committed additional SDF units for relief efforts
✔ Established an emergency response office to coordinate firefighting and evacuation measures
Scale of the Disaster
- The wildfire is Japan’s largest since the late 1980s, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency.
- Nearly 1,700 firefighters from 450 departments were already battling the blaze.
- The government has requested additional reinforcements from Hokkaido and Yokohama.
- Aerial firefighting, including SDF helicopters, has helped prevent flames from reaching Ofunato’s residential areas.
- Despite efforts, the burned land increased by 400 hectares on Sunday alone.
Ongoing Firefighting & Rehabilitation Efforts
PM Ishiba has directed authorities to:
🔥 Commit more SDF units and ensure a unified response between firefighters and the military
🏠 Support affected residents by initiating emergency temporary housing provisions
As firefighting efforts continue, authorities remain focused on controlling the wildfire and minimizing its impact on local communities.