A massive firefighting operation involving 1,400 firefighters and 100 Self-Defence Force (SDF) personnel is underway in northern Japan to combat persistent mountain blazes. The fires, which continued to rage for a fifth consecutive day on Sunday, are posing a direct threat to the coastal town of Otsuchi.
By early Sunday morning, the total area scorched by the flames had reached 1,373 hectares (3,393 acres), representing a seven per cent increase in size within a 24-hour period, reports Reuters.
The encroaching fires are currently menacing residential areas of the Pacific Coast town, a community previously devastated by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, which claimed nearly ten per cent of its residents.
Local authorities have issued evacuation orders for 1,541 households, affecting 3,233 people – approximately one-third of the town’s total population.
During a press conference, Otsuchi Mayor Kozo Hirano noted that while the SDF is utilizing helicopters to tackle the inferno from above, the efforts are being hampered by dry conditions and strong winds that continue to fuel the fire’s expansion.
The psychological toll on the community is evident as residents watch the approaching flames. Yoshinori Komatsu, 74, expressed his fears while observing SDF helicopters dropping water in the distance, remarking that unlike a tsunami, which may leave some debris behind, a fire results in total destruction.
Despite the scale of the emergency, only one minor injury has been reported so far, involving an individual who fell at an evacuation centre, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency.
The immediate weather outlook remains challenging. The Japan Meteorological Agency reports that no rainfall is expected on Sunday or Monday, though there is a forecast for a brief shower on Tuesday. Officials stated that the origin of the blazes is currently unknown and remains under investigation.
