Firefighters in Japan are struggling to contain a massive wildfire in Iwate Prefecture, marking the country’s largest fire in half a century. Bloomberg reported that the blaze has been burning for over a week near the city of Ofunato. As of Tuesday, the wildfire has scorched approximately 2,600 hectares (6,425 acres), according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency.
More than 2,000 firefighters, supported by helicopters, are working to extinguish the flames, but the mountainous terrain has complicated efforts, local broadcaster NHK reported. Local authorities have ordered residents to evacuate as the fire threatens urban areas. One person has died, and Iwate’s governor has requested assistance from neighboring prefectures, the fire agency noted. Nearly 4,000 residents have been forced to evacuate, with 4,600 under advisory warnings.
Wildfires are rare in Japan due to the country’s typically humid climate, but the dry conditions in northeastern Japan have made forests more vulnerable. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, Ofunato and surrounding areas have experienced significantly lower precipitation than usual. The city received just 20 mm of rain in January – less than half the 30-year average – and only 2.5 mm in February, about 6% of the norm. A dry weather warning has been in effect in the city since Feb. 18.
The fire in Iwate follows other recent wildfires in Japan. A blaze that erupted on Feb. 28 in Nagano Prefecture has been extinguished, while another in Yamanashi Prefecture, which began on Feb. 26, was brought under control on Monday.
According to a report from Japan Today, the number of wildfires in Japan has decreased since its peak in the 1970s, but in 2023, the country recorded around 1,300, mostly between February and April when the air is dry and winds are stronger.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the Iwate fire. Meanwhile, weather forecasts suggest potential snowfall or rainfall on Wednesday, which could aid in firefighting efforts and help contain the blaze before it spreads further.
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