Japan sends 1,700 firefighters to battle massive forest fire

Photo : AFP

A big forest fire is burning in Japan’s Iwate area, making it the worst in 30 years. The fire started last Thursday near the city of Ofunato and has already burned around 2,100 hectares (4,450 acres) of land. On Monday, officials said that nearly 1,700 firefighters from 14 places, including Tokyo, are trying to stop the fire.

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One person died last week because of the fire. Around 4,600 people have been told to leave their homes for safety. More than 2,000 people are staying with family or friends, while over 1,200 have moved to safe shelters. The fire has damaged at least 84 houses and buildings, but officials are still checking for more damage.

Firefighters are using 16 helicopters, including some from the military, to pour water on the flames. But strong winds and dry weather are making it hard to stop the fire. Videos from the area show big flames close to houses and thick white smoke covering the sky.

Experts say the fire has become worse because of the very dry weather. In February, Ofunato had only 2.5 millimeters (0.1 inches) of rain, the lowest ever recorded. The last lowest record was 4.4 millimeters in 1967, while the usual amount of rain in February is 41 millimeters.

Japan used to have more wildfires in the 1970s, but the number has gone down. Still, around 1,300 wildfires were reported in 2023. Most happen between February and April when the weather is dry and the wind is strong.

Officials are working hard to control the fire and stop it from spreading. People in the area are still in danger, and firefighters are doing their best to keep them safe.